Western Mail - Feb 1 2007
SWANSEA'S Deputy Mayor hit back at Labour and Plaid Cymru critics who claim he is only interested in the money for being chairman of a committee.
In a leaked email, Independent councillor Ioan Richard complained about the pay cut he faces when he loses his role as chair of the council's licensing committee as part of a political realignment at the council.
Mr 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% more than our regime now claims. The fact is that Plaid Cymru 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 Cymru are queuing up to claim the chair allowances."
