Call for ousted politicians to get 'parachute' money

12:34pm Wednesday 16th May 2007

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A former councillor is calling for Premier League-style "parachute payments" to help politicians booted out in local elections adjust to life on civvy street.

Tehmtan Framroze says leaders and deputy leaders who work full-time should be provided with severance pay if they lose their jobs - like football teams relegated from the top flight into the Championship.

On May 3, former council leader Simon Burgess and deputy leader Sue John found themselves stripped of their incomes, mobile phones and computers, at the ballot box.

Councillors receive an allowance, rather than a salary, and Mr Framroze believes senior council figures will be put off from ploughing all their time into public work if there is no safety net for the precarious job.

The council leader currently earns around £28,000 a year while deputy leader takes home almost £17,000.

Positions on other public authorities are also available and Ms John earned another £8,000 from her post on the South East England Development Agency's board.

MPs who lose their seat or do not stand for re-election are entitled to a resettlement grant of between 50 to 100 per cent of their salary while councillors receive nothing.

Mr Framroze, who represented Hollingbury and Stanmer before standing down from Brighton and Hove City Council after 21 years' service, said he was aware his proposal would be controversial but felt that if the best candidates and a wide cross section of the community were to be attracted to local government, some financial cushion was needed.

He said: "There is no severance pay at the moment and I suggest that some councilors, like the leader, should receive their allowance, or part of the allowance, for two months if they lose their position.

"It is a great blow to councillors, particularly if they do not expect to lose their seat.

"This is something we should be looking into, while considering the best use of taxpayers' resources.

"I think the current situation discourages people from coming into local government.

"I have been a councilor for 21 years and this change seems sensible in a civilised society."

In a review of councillor allowances last year, the report concluded: "The panel has maintained the view that the leader of the council carries a very high level of responsibility, given the complexity, size and budget of the council."

Mr Burgess said he did not want to comment on his case, but added: "In the future, if we are going to keep a wide spectrum of people serving the city we cannot expect to leave them with no income overnight."