With exquisite timing, the CLG this week announced new proposed regulations for the ‘full disclosure' of senior council staff pay and perks. Its release said this would ‘bring councils up to the same high standards that are already fully required of civil servants and government ministers.' It was plainly written before last weekend's disclosure of home secretary Jacqui Smith's husband's expenses claim for porn films unleashed a pent-up torrent of bile against MPs and ministers for their lavish and, in some cases, quite unwarranted expenses. For, while it is true that the salaries of MPs and ministers are open, the full extent of their expenses is less obvious to the public. Few people, indeed, were aware of the second homes allowance, let alone the fact that it was available as a perk. Even fewer appreciate that the £141,000 salary of a Cabinet minister – yes, certainly less than the salary of a minority of chief executives – is, nonetheless, enhanced by expenses. MPs and ministers claim these expenses are just a part of their salary package because they can scarcely live on the basic £63,291. Actually, most council leaders who are doing a darned sight more responsible job than backbench MPs live on a lot less than £64,000, let alone all the other expenses that come with the Westminster job. The revelations in the past few weeks about parliamentary expenses would, had they been applied to local government, led to resignations, inquiries and even criminal proceedings. Because MPs and ministers have abided by the system, they will escape censure, although not in the court of public opinion. It is time governance arrangements applied across the board, not just to chosen parts of the public sector. MPs and ministers should receive set salaries for the job and drop the add-on allowances. Council leaders and cabinet members should be properly remunerated. If council chief officer salaries are too high, then that is a matter for their authority's members, not ministers. Let ministers get their own house in order first. Michael Burton, Editor, The MJ
