After the publication of our report yeasterday on council mileage spending, the response from the leaders of both Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council was very positive. Here is what they had to say as reported in the Hull Daily Mail. First, Cllr Carl Minns from Hull:
Cllr Stephen Parnaby from East Riding of Yorkshire Council said:
It is good to see an acknowledgement that current rates are unacceptably high, and a commitment to reducing them. Some people say the TPA only criticise. This is not true. When those in public life do the right thing, we are one of the first to say so.
I will, of course, be making sure Cllrs Minns and Parnaby (or their replacements) act on their words. With elections just under three weeks' away, both leaders will natuarally talk a good game, but if they do reduce these rates, and give better value to taxpayers, I will once again voice my praise.After the publication of our report yeasterday on council mileage spending, the response from the leaders of both Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council was very positive. Here is what they had to say as reported in the Hull Daily Mail. First, Cllr Carl Minns from Hull:
Cllr Stephen Parnaby from East Riding of Yorkshire Council said:
It is good to see an acknowledgement that current rates are unacceptably high, and a commitment to reducing them. Some people say the TPA only criticise. This is not true. When those in public life do the right thing, we are one of the first to say so.
I will, of course, be making sure Cllrs Minns and Parnaby (or their replacements) act on their words. With elections just under three weeks' away, both leaders will natuarally talk a good game, but if they do reduce these rates, and give better value to taxpayers, I will once again voice my praise.
"It's too high, absolutely it's too high and we are currently reviewing it. We are looking to reduce it, but we cannot change everything at once. We will be having discussions with Unison about it, as we are with many different things, in a bid to manage the budget cuts. Any changes will hopefully be brought about within two or three months."
Cllr Stephen Parnaby from East Riding of Yorkshire Council said:
"Honestly, I didn't know that officers got more than 50p per mile. As a councillor, I get only 32p per mile and I maybe assumed it would be the same. I will certainly look into this and if there are savings to be had then we will consider them."
It is good to see an acknowledgement that current rates are unacceptably high, and a commitment to reducing them. Some people say the TPA only criticise. This is not true. When those in public life do the right thing, we are one of the first to say so.
I will, of course, be making sure Cllrs Minns and Parnaby (or their replacements) act on their words. With elections just under three weeks' away, both leaders will natuarally talk a good game, but if they do reduce these rates, and give better value to taxpayers, I will once again voice my praise.After the publication of our report yeasterday on council mileage spending, the response from the leaders of both Hull City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council was very positive. Here is what they had to say as reported in the Hull Daily Mail. First, Cllr Carl Minns from Hull:
"It's too high, absolutely it's too high and we are currently reviewing it. We are looking to reduce it, but we cannot change everything at once. We will be having discussions with Unison about it, as we are with many different things, in a bid to manage the budget cuts. Any changes will hopefully be brought about within two or three months."
Cllr Stephen Parnaby from East Riding of Yorkshire Council said:
"Honestly, I didn't know that officers got more than 50p per mile. As a councillor, I get only 32p per mile and I maybe assumed it would be the same. I will certainly look into this and if there are savings to be had then we will consider them."
It is good to see an acknowledgement that current rates are unacceptably high, and a commitment to reducing them. Some people say the TPA only criticise. This is not true. When those in public life do the right thing, we are one of the first to say so.
I will, of course, be making sure Cllrs Minns and Parnaby (or their replacements) act on their words. With elections just under three weeks' away, both leaders will natuarally talk a good game, but if they do reduce these rates, and give better value to taxpayers, I will once again voice my praise.