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The current furore over expenses for Members of Parliament is an interesting continuation of a theme of perceived excesses in the public sector. This has been in existence in our media for some years, for example, European Parliament and their expenses, and ‘excessive' local government chief executive salaries. Both the stories about MPs and MEPs centred on claims for costs they incur, whereas for chief executives' it is about what they should be paid. The latter debate is one which has been ably taken up by SOLACE but, in some ways, it is regrettable the concentration of the media seems to be about our pay, rather than the good work carried out in communities on a daily basis, or whether chief executives do their job well. It must be the case that this is what people in Britain want. If that is the way of the world, then we must embrace this concept, and carry out our roles in full knowledge that this is the case. Why not publish our salaries and benefits along with details of our roles, and recognise that, for the most part, we do a difficult job reasonably well. But how much should we publish? The latest Freedom of Information request on this sort of issue received in my council asks for a great amount of information, some of which we do not record. And I have no doubt there will be a clamour for all of senior managers' expenses to be published in the near future. There should be nothing to worry about, if we have nothing to hide. It will undoubtedly make everyone think carefully about what is charged to the public purse. In the long run, surely this cannot be a bad thing. The expenses disclosures have made good copy. I also admit there have been several times over the past few days when I have felt ‘the biter has been bitten'. Where are the expense claims of those MPs who had, in the past, stated chief executives were receiving fat cat salaries? We do receive a good salary, but our salaries are taxable, and we certainly do not receive tax-free allowances which are often greater than most district council chief executive salaries. Time for a coffee now, and to read the latest revelations… Paul Lankester is chief executive at Stratford-upon-Avon DC

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WHITEHALL

District View

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