Following news public sector pay would be frozen for at least two years, Cllr Parnaby said it was only right elected members of the council should also forgo any rise in [...]]]> MP for Beverley and Holderness, Graham Stuart, has backed calls by East Riding of Yorkshire Council leader Cllr Steve Parnaby OBE, to freeze members’ allowances.

 Following news public sector pay would be frozen for at least two years, Cllr Parnaby said it was only right elected members of the council should also forgo any rise in their allowances.

Graham said: “I absolutely agree with Cllr Parnaby that this is the right thing to do. It will show residents that councillors understand the pain which has been forced on the council as it faces budget cuts of around £30 million.

 “These are tough times. The sorry financial legacy left by 13 years of Labour is hitting everyone so I hope the rest of the elected members of the East Riding council support the leader and also vote not to increase councillor allowances.”

A councillor receives a basic allowance of £10,711 a year. Members of the council cabinet and those with other ‘special responsibilities’ receive additional allowances.

 Already the Coalition Government has announced it will freeze council tax for at least a year – possibly two if funding can be made available – while also looking to give residents the [...]]]> MP for Beverley and Holderness, Graham Stuart, today praised the new Government for the way it was giving power back to local communities.

 Already the Coalition Government has announced it will freeze council tax for at least a year – possibly two if funding can be made available – while also looking to give residents the right to veto high council tax rises.

 Graham said: “The previous government took the view that it always knew what was best for people. This government disagrees and thinks people should have the right to make up their own minds.

 “At the core of this philosophy is the belief that local people often know more about local issues than someone sitting in London.”

 Other local taxation issues which have already been tackled by the Coalition Government include scrapping Labour’s plans for new bin taxes on family homes. This would have harmed the environment by fuelling fly-tipping and encouraging backyard burning.

 The Coalition Government has introduced a more generous small business rate relief scheme, to help firms come out of recession, for one year starting in October. Firms with a Rateable Value under £6,000 will pay no business rates at all for a year.

 And importantly for those living and working along the banks of the River Humber it has scrapped Labour’s ports tax – unfair retrospective business rates on firms in ports which threatened to decimate those firms and damage Britain’s whole manufacturing sector.

 Graham added: “These are small steps in the right direction. I believe it is important people can see the Government is working for them and not simply dictating what will happen, I think it is important people know that the Government really cares and I think it important people have a real voice in shaping what happens in their own communities.”

A recent meeting of the council cabinet supported the bonus payment to her pension as part of an early retirement package.Welcoming news councillors plan to scrutinise the decision at a committee Graham said: “I [...]]]> Graham Stuart MP is asking the East Riding of Yorkshire Council to think again about a £364,000 discretionary payment to out-going corporate resources director Sue Lockwood.

A recent meeting of the council cabinet supported the bonus payment to her pension as part of an early retirement package.Welcoming news councillors plan to scrutinise the decision at a committee Graham said: “I think it is right this matter should be called in. I wonder how the council, in the current economic climate, can justify paying this sort of cash on a discretionary basis.

 ”Being called in will mean all councillors have a chance to examine their consciences, do the right thing and concentrate limited resources on the provision of front line services.”

Ms Lockwood’s post is expected to be advertised shortly with a similar salary package.

She will be the third senior East Riding officer to have been granted discretionary early retirement since significant pay rises in 2008.