Mayors expenses declaration 2010.

In keeping with my practise over the past few years, I am publishing my total expenses for 2010. 6 months of these expenses roughly are for the post of Mayor so there is a significant increase over 2009. The declaration also includes payment for membership of Co Wexford VEC.
The sums given below are the actual amounts I received. In the case of Representational Payment it is subject to tax at 40%. For the record I attended one LAMA conference in Sligo at Easter time this year (€214.16). I travelled by train so no mileage was paid to me during the year by WBC. I stayed away one night at that conference. I also attended the Birmingham Wexford Association annual dinner dance over a week end (€108.06) in early October as well as a day trip to Wales to present the Mayor’s Cup at a youth golf tournament(€80).
My expenses from Co Wexford VEC also include payment for a day seminar in Corporate governance in Tullamore. I also was paid in 2010 for mobile phone calls (€188.50)dating back to 2008. In previous years these claims were published on foot of a Freedom of Information request by local media. The figures released were gross and not net so they did not take into account taxes paid. It wasn’t noted in the media that for the 2011 estimates the Mayor’s conference allowance of €6,000 has been abolished and the Mayor will in future be treated like any other member when it comes to conference expenses.
What this information gives is what I received for being a councillor, mayor and VEC Vice chairperson. You may have expected more but that’s the lot. I know that it doesn’t ultimately matter how big or how little a councillor receives. What’s key is the accounting for monies paid.
Rounded off to the nearest euro
Representational Payment €7072.1
Monthly meeting allowance €3054
Conferences & UK travel €402.66
Mayor & councillors allowance €3990.63
Mobile phone €188.50
VEC €525.12

Total received € 15449.26

Given that I am exactly half way through the term of Mayor I expect next years figures to be roughly the same and in 2012 the payments will be close to the 2009 rate.

Taking the chains!

It’s a great honour and its something that is hugely important to me. Being first citizen is the highest office you can get in Wexford politics. Lets be straight up it’s the best job in Wexford politics and the oldest. The County Council is certainly better resourced and has a wider remit but being Mayor carries a historical legacy that goes right back to the 14th century.
When the Normans invaded and subsequently rolled out town governance, Mayor was an enormously powerful job in local politics. The mayor called the shots. He (and it always was a man until the 1970’s) raised taxes, militias, passed sentence, performed weddings, decided what was spent and was enormously influential.
Happily the stocks are long gone from Wexford and I cannot see the circumstances when a militia might be needed for the moment! The town sergeant precedes the Mayor at formal events bearing one of the towns 3 silver maces. They date from the 18th century and we know that because on the staff there’s a harp representing Ireland, the rose representing England and the thistle to represent Scotland. All 3 kingdoms mentioned but nothing about our nearest neighbour, the Principality of Wales!

The traditional open meeting to elect the Mayor took place in Wexford Arts Centre, the original home of Wexford Corporation. I always enjoy these meetings as a councillor because there is something hugely significant and important in electing a Mayor. Being Mayor in Wexford is a completely different proposition to being Mayor in a bigger urban area. You’re so much more accessible and recognised. You’re ex-officio a member of all committees in both the town and the district. Add to that my membership of the VEC and it makes for a busy year in terms of policy development as well.
Not to mention there’s the social side to it or as it’s been described “Eating for Wexford”! When I served as Deputy Mayor 3 years ago I got to see that side of the town’s social life. I’ve always tended to think differently of invites to social events to those who actually organise them. You’re there because of who you represent. The others can do R & R but the Mayor can’t.

But there is something hugely important in being Mayor, local authorities are often derided but without them who would step into the gap? Moreover a Labour Mayor has always a vision of so what is mine? Hanging on the wall of the Arts Centre last night was a poster that said “I see the world as it is”. How appropriate! I pointed out that if you come to terms with the past you understand the present mistakes and you can plan your future. We all have a future in this town however it is one within the context of social solidarity. We cannot make those who are worse off pay for mistakes of the past. If we are to have a future it is on the basis that we all opt in. We must talk up our town, Why is it that decentralisation to Wexford worked? We have a lot going for us here, It’s time to tell the world about Wexford.

Council Estimates? Your guess is as good as mine!

The last matter on the agenda for Wexford Borough council agenda for 2009 is the delicate matter of passing estimates for 2010. The estimate is effectively the council’s budget for the next year. The period for a local authority to approve the budget is fixed by the Environment Minister, so the pressure is on to agree how to spend the cash. If councillors cannot agree then an extension may be provided but you’re effectively in injury time and the caretaker’s keys are rattling as the shutters are almost down. Failure to agree means a Minister will appoint a commissioner to run the town in place of the elected members. He (and it would be a man!) would take the place of the members, travel to a council chamber once a month, and go through a sham meeting with officials in front of the press and decide in public the affairs of the authority. No room for local motions on the issues such as roads (or as the media refer to them as potholes!), local issues within the community, housing, environmental, transport or social issues. My feel is that if a council rejects the estimates why not dissolve the council and have another local election in the area and see if a new council could agree an estimate? Simple, it's what would happen to the Dail if a budget fails and what should happen if a council can't agree how to spend thier money. It's fairer and allows a community to ultimately decide which direction their local council should go.

Having been on the council for over 5 years, I must admit the part of the agenda that I anticipate most is correspondence. That’s because we usually hear from other council’s on motions they’ve passed and are seeking support for. Mostly these issues are plain straightforward. Councillors are at the coalface, we’re on the ground while our deputy is in Dublin. We see things first hand regardless of party affiliation. It’s easy to catch hold of a councillor and give them an earful. When you meet the person on the street regularly you make it your business to see that your representations are processed by the council deputies can be somewhat firewalled by attendance in Leinster House. Run in a local election but you cannot hide!

Which explains why it is that councillors can hold their seats against national trends. Every councillor knows someone that disagrees fundamentally with them but, who happily supports them in an election, because they have delivered on the local scene. That’s what makes local authorities important. They reflect public opinion better. Everyone can vote for a local councillor regardless of citizenship. A councillor is answerable to everyone. No invitation to a meeting public or private can be ignored, as any councillor’s family can testify to. That makes local politics hard on families of councillors.
Still we do it. And after Wednesday night we’ll be doing it for another year at least. Wexford Borough’s estimates passed unanimously. Uniquely there were no increased charges, rents, rates and parking charges all stayed at the 2009 level. Unique in that the estimates were proposed by Sinn Fein and also because despite one councillor who’d previously said he’d vote against estimates unless commercial rates were cut, the opposition that was flagged for over a year didn’t materialise in the night. Surprised? Well frankly I’m not, the next local elections aren’t for another 4 ½ years and as Mary Harney famously said on another issue, they’ll have forgotten this in 6 months!
So Happy Christmas from Wexford and roll on 2010!