Legg Report Out Today!

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Rotherham's MPs' today found out how much trouble they are in. 
Sir Thomas Legg's Report, published by the members estimates committee says the following about Rotherham's three MPs'

Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP
Rother Valley
Mr Barron has no issues.

Mr John Healey MP
Wentworth
Mr Healey was overpaid by a total of £2,354.35 for mortgage interest (£460.00 in
2004-05; £359.49 in 2005-06; £447.65 in 2006-07; £639.50 in 2007-08; and
£447.72 in 2008-09).

Rt Hon Denis MacShane MP
Rotherham
Dr MacShane was paid cleaning costs totalling £7,354.34 (£3,000.00 in 2004-05;
£2,341.34 in 2005-06; and £2,013.00 in 2007-08). This exceeded £2,000 a year by
£1,354.34.
In September and October 2008, he was paid £153.39 for gas without providing
sufficient evidence to show that this was a cost incurred at his second home, since
the only address on the bill related to his main home.
He should also provide mortgage interest statements to support payments totalling
£6,001.34 for the period April 2004 to January 2006. I recommend that he should
be allowed until 1 March 2010 to do this. If he does not do so, then in the absence
of any special or exceptional reasons to the contrary, he should repay the whole
amount of the allowance involved.

It must be emphasised that this information only applies to their use of the Additional Costs Allowance.
It is now time for Kevin Barron and Denis MacShane to provide their constituents with at least the same disclosure as John Healey, because it is our money they have spent and appear to have been taking liberties when it comes to claiming ACA.

Peter Thirwall said, "Denis MacShane has a lot of explaining to do", and " I am sure that everyone in Rotherham will be horrified at this and I feel he should stand down now, as labours candidate, before the election, it is that serious in my view"

We are saddened and upset by the greed throughout parliament and it strengthens our resolve to work harder to give the electorate a real choice at the General and local elections to come.

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Peter Thirlwall and Ben Slade Challenge Greedy Rotherham Councillors

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Our Independent councillors, Peter Thirlwall and Ben Slade, are proposing the following change to Council Policy at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday February 3rd:

"At a time of severe pressures on the Council budget, this Council resolves to discontinue first class rail travel for Councillors and use the money saved to support front line services for the people of Rotherham."

Peter will be proposing and Ben will be seconding the proposal.

Rotherham Independents Campaign members are fully supportive and consider it the most reasonable thing to do when Rotherham's residents are suffering great economic hardship.

In a bi-partisan approach to fellow councillors, Peter has written individually to all Rotherham councillors asking them to consider what Rotherham's people want, just for once.

What Peter has said to them:

 "Dear Fellow Councillor,

On Wednesday at the full Council Meeting I will be proposing the following motion to bring to an end the practise of using first class travel whilst on Council business.

Motion to Council on the 3^rd February 2010

"At a time of severe pressures on the Council budget, this Council resolves to discontinue first class rail travel for Councillors and use the money saved to support front line services for the people of Rotherham."

Proposed:  Councillor Peter Thirlwall

Seconded:  Councillor Ben Slade

I would ask you all to consider your position carefully before rejecting this motion, which would be taken by the vast majority of Rotherham people, a sign that you do not live in the same world as them. For just once take a decision to save some taxpayers money to help save the front line services that your constituents may rely on.

Collectively councillors in Rotherham are already amongst the most well rewarded in the country. Last year each of you received the basic allowance of £12,271. Most of you in addition have received 'special responsibility allowances' varying from a Cabinet Adviser on £1.203 to the Leader of the council on £32,544. The Special Responsibility Allowances cost the taxpayer a total of £356,150. A grand total of £1,136,767 last year in fact!

The fact that you insist on getting every last penny out of us, is nothing short of an outrage, especially when it comes at the end of a financial year when you have made swingeing cuts to essential services that the most vulnerable in our communities depended upon.

I would point out to you that these cuts are occurring now, before any of the post election belt tightening that all parties are promising to come. I do hope that you do not suggest that, even in a time of great austerity in public services, you are totally unwilling to share any of the pain? (If giving up first class travel could in any way be described as pain.)

Finally I make the plea, once again, on behalf of all in Rotherham for you to stop first class travel. 

Yours,

Councillor Peter Thirlwall

Rotherham Independents

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