South Wales Evening Post - 1 February 2007
Swansea Council could grind to a halt because of the latest political power struggle, Labour councillors have warned.
They have lambasted a call by Councillor Ioan Richard for "trench warfare" in the battle for control of scrutiny committees and other lucrative posts.
The Lib Dem-led coalition had agreed last week to hand over the positions after Labour, Plaid and Conservatives banded together to demand the switch, empowered by their joint majority.
But now in a lengthy email to his Lib Dem coalition colleagues, Councillor Richard, who is currently chair of the licensing committee, proposes challenging the chairmanship of boards at every meeting in a bid to claw back some of the thousands of pounds they stand to lose in bonus payments.
He said: "If we succeed only once in five goes we will get 20 per cent of their special responsibility allowance, eg 20 per cent of a chair's £9,000 is £1,800, an amount not to be scoffed at, and it will really inconvenience the other lot and annoy them enormously.
"It would really cause them serious problems and give us back a couple of thousand pounds a year.
"Councillor Richards admits that some of this group thought it was childish, but he urges colleagues to push on with the scheme. He said: "If I can inconvenience the new cabal and get paid for it, that is OK by me."
He adds that he may have to go back to casual supply teaching if he cannot claw back some of his bonus cash.City leader Chris Holley said there were no plans to pursue the move and talks were continuing on a way forward for resolving the row.
Councillor David Phillips, leader of the Labour Group, has launched a stinging attack on Councillor Richards and the coalition.
He said: "It is just being silly, they are just being bloodyminded. It is all about money. I have said all along that the administration was bound together by money rather than principle.
"His email shows how petty the administration is behaving. It will bring the whole processes of the council to a halt.
"The whole process of scrutiny boards will be subverted.
"I find it unbelievable that Chris Holley has support for this outrageous idea which will completely frustrate the proper role of scrutiny boards.
"This is the administration that the leader promised was open, transparent and democratic - where is that in what they are proposing?
"Nothing is going to happen. If democracy isn't allowed to take place then the whole working of the council is at risk."
Councillor Richard said: "Being chair of licensing has been a full time job over the past year with all the new License Act changes.
"I gave up teaching work prematurely to do this civic duty. It is only fair that I am recompensed for loss of earnings. When Labour were in power in Swansea they all claimed 20 per cent more than our regime now claims.
"The fact is that Plaid and Labour have strangely formed a new coalition to oust myself and my colleagues. I make no bones about it that I am aggrieved. Plaid are queuing up to claim the chair allowances."
