Councillor defends his right for an allowance

At the full Adur District Council meeting last month, Conservative district councillor James Butcher said UKIP county leader Mike Glennon cost tax payers £23,741, which would pay for six district councillors.

After the meeting, councillor for Lancing Mr Glennon said: “Incongruously, he embarked upon a bizarre rant about me.

“He seemed to get confused between matters relating to his own council and those concerning West Sussex County Council.”

Mr Glennon claimed that in the last financial year, the leader of the Liberal Democrat party cost tax payers £24,635, the Labour leader £26,377, and said he came in third at £23,741.

“Cabinet members, all Conservatives, cost the county up to £36,609 each, the Conservative deputy leader £38,105 and the Conservative leader £44,774,” Mr Glennon said.

“Democracy does come with a price tag, but is that price too high?

“Yes, in UKIP’s view. That is why I tabled a motion at county council last year to merge the eight councils across West Sussex into one streamlined unitary authority, saving up to £20million per year.”

However, Mr Glennon claimed that all Conservative members voted against it.

In response, Mr Butcher said he was ‘unsurprised’ by Mr Glennon’s comments.

He said: “UKIP councillors spoke of filling pockets, and I merely made the suggestion that the whole debate could be brought into perspective when it was considered that six Adur councillors would cost the same as Mr Glennon.”

Mr Butcher added that as chairman of Lancing Parish Council he takes home only £150 a year.

At the February meeting, Adur council agreed to raise allowances by five per cent.