Call for council wage freeze (From Chorley Citizen)

Call for council wage freeze

5:00pm Wednesday 21st January 2009 in Letters

Here we are again, at that time of the year when the political elite of both Chorley and Lancashire County Council, attempt to justify increasing the council tax burden on us.

What planet do these people inhabit?

Lancashire County Council is seeking to appoint a director of economic development, at a reported cost of £100,000 per annum, and all for what?

Don't we already have battalions of people in similar roles employed by the North West Regional Development Agency, the North West Regional Assembly, The Northern Way and, also, within each individual council within Lancashire?

As for Chorley Council, at times like this we need consensus politics not petty bickering.

Both our local politicians, and all the council staff, need to show more appreciation of the dire financial problems now facing thousands of people within the region.

In the private sector many people are having to accept wage freezes and salary reductions and many, many more are losing their jobs.

I don't see any indication of any public sector worker being similarly disadvantaged.

It would have been refreshing if the council had announced a total wage freeze for all its employees.

Also a total freeze on increases in councillor allowances and a reduction of at least five per cent in its headcount.

This is what the real world has to do at times like this.

Richard Davies The Asshawes Heath Charnock