2009/2010 Cabinet Members Allowances and Expenses

The request was successful.

Dear Swindon Borough Council,

1) Please confirm the amounts of allowances and expenses claimed by and paid to Cabinet Members of Swindon Borough Council for year 2009/2010

2) Please confirm the salary and expenses claimed by/paid to the Political assistant to the Conservative group/Staff Officer to the Cabinet Douglas Campbell for year 2009/2010

Yours faithfully,

Geoff Reid

Geoff Reid left an annotation ()

Members of the Talkswindon.org forum provide independent scrutiny of Swindon Borough Council's elected members and the political policies they introduce to the Borough.

Part of that scrutiny process is the collection, comparison, publication and transparent and open discussion of public-interest information about how the council and our councillors operate.

Transparency doesn't seem to come naturally to Swindon Borough Council so more forum members and FOI researchers are always welcome at www.talkswindon.org

Geoff Reid (Forum Founder)

Geoff Reid left an annotation ()

Talkswindon Forum Discussion topic here:

http://www.talkswindon.org/index.php?top...

Customer Services, Swindon Borough Council

Thank you for your email which has been forwarded to FoI for response.

Kind regards

Customer Services
Swindon Borough Council
Wat Tyler House
Swindon SN1 2JG
Phone: 01793 445500

E-mail: [Swindon Borough Council request email]
Website: www.swindon.gov.uk

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Sharon Druett, Swindon Borough Council

2 Attachments

Dear Mr Reid

Ref: FOI101000223636 Freedom of Information Request

Thank you for your attached email received in our office on 23 June 2010.
The Council has a duty to respond 'promptly' to your request, or no later
than 20 working days which in this case is 20 July 2010.

I enclose for your attention, the following information.

1) Please confirm the amounts of allowances and expenses claimed by and
paid to Cabinet Members of Swindon Borough Council for year
2009/2010

The Allowances payable to all Swindon Councillors for 2010/11 are attached
- in terms of all members of Cabinet these are the same as for 2009/10
(there has been no change in amounts payable for 2010/11)

There are two Councillors who were Cabinet Members up until May 2010.
These are Councillor Colin Lovell and former Councillor Philip Young the
latter not seeking election in May 2010.

2) Please confirm the salary and expenses claimed by/paid to the Political
assistant to the Conservative group/Staff Officer to the Cabinet Douglas
Campbell for year 2009/2010

It is not the Council's policy to release the exact salary or expenses
details for all members of staff. We are guided by the ICO's own advice
which states only in exceptional circumstances should exact salary details
be released. In coming to our decision we have taken into account the
position this role holds within the Council and consider disclosure would
in this case breach the Data Protection Act principles under Section 40(2)
of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. However, in line with the
guidance, we are prepared to release the pay banding for this role, which
is currently Grade Q1 £28,634 to £37,875. If you still require the exact
salary please get back to me.
I can also confirm during the time period requested Mr Campbell deputised
for Cllr Fionuala Foley at a conference on Reducing Domestic Violence
5.10.09 And staffed the Leader and Deputy Leader at a meeting with the
then Shadow Local Government Minister, Caroline Spelman on 31.03.09, for
which he claimed expenses that were approved following normal Council
procedures.
If you require any further details please get back to me

If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received in relation to
your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review, you should
contact:

Customer Services
Civic Offices
Euclid Street
Swindon
Website: [1]www.[Swindon Borough Council request email]

The complaints/review procedure involves a full review and an examination
of all the information by the Council's Monitoring Officer.

If you are not content with the outcome of our conclusion, you may apply
directly to the Information Commissioner's Office for a decision, before
contacting the Council. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless
you have exhausted the Council's own complaints procedure.

The Information Officer can be contacted at:

The Information Commissioner's Office,
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Email: [2][email address]
Tel: 01625 545700 (ask for Freedom of Information)

If you require any further information concerning this matter, please
contact me as detailed, quoting the above reference number in any future
communications.

Yours sincerely

Sharon Druett

Sharon Druett ([email address])
Freedom of Information Officer
Law and Democratic Services
Swindon Borough Council
Tel: 01793 463377
Fax: 01793 463405
Web: [3]www.swindon.gov.uk

Please consider the environment before printing this email.

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Dear Sharon Druett,

Thanks for the information received. Most satisfactory.

I very much hope FOI units aren't cut in the approaching chaos.

Wishing you good luck.

Yours sincerely,

Geoff Reid