Ealing Councillors To Vote On Cutting Pay To Save Ward Forums

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Motion due before before Ealing Council

Liberal Democrats on Ealing Council are urging the Council to save ward forum meetings by cutting Councillors allowances.

The regular public meetings have given residents the chance to raise issues with councillors and quiz them about council policies including controversial planning applications and parking charges.

In a cost cutting exercise the council decided the forums would be scrapped from the end of March and the £20,000 of cash for each ward would be  centralised in a Transform Your Space budget.

However, the decision has sparked criticism with many claiming it will further distance residents from decision making in the borough.

Southfield Councillor Gary Malcolm with Sally Chacatte who was funded by ward forum budgets for youth group that helps teenagers in Acton and Chiswick.

The Liberal Democrats will put a budget amendment  before Ealing Council tonight ( Tuesday 24th February) aimed at retaining the ward forum meetings and their budgets,forever.

They are suggesting cutting the amount Councillors are paid - the basic responsibility allowance starts at £9,708 and increases dependent on position.

Their motion to be put before full council is:

"Resolves to continue ward forums with budgets, funded by reducing basic allowances and special responsibility allowances by a sufficient sum."

What the ''sufficient sum'' is has not been revealed.

Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Gary Malcolm said: “Liberal Democrats are proud to support our local communities across the borough. Labour have made cut after cut. The Liberal Democrats with our budget amendment would protect ward forums which help fund many schemes including road safety schemes and cycling lessons for children.”

Ealing has 57 Labour Councillors, 8 Conservative and 4 Liberal Democrats

 

February 25, 2020