Councillors offered pay to stand down

16 Dec 04
Plans to make severance payments to Scottish councillors who stand down at the next local government election will cost the taxpayer £6m, the Executive has revealed.

17 December 2004

Plans to make severance payments to Scottish councillors who stand down at the next local government election will cost the taxpayer £6m, the Executive has revealed.

The payoff is being introduced to encourage long-standing councillors to make way for fresh talent. But opposition political parties have described the scheme as a 'bribe' to Labour councillors affected by the Executive's decision to introduce a proportional representation voting system at the 2007 election.

Labour has 500 of Scotland's 1,222 councillors and many could lose their seats through PR.

Bill Aitken, the Conservative chief whip at the Scottish Parliament, said: 'Any remuneration has to be given for the right reasons, not as sweeteners for being eased out of office.'

The decision to introduce a severance package, which will be based on a councillor's length of service, follows recommendations made by an expert working group.

The group recommended a sum of up to £30,000, but ministers have reduced this to around £25,000 as the maximum payment for any individual.

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