Political payments

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your e-mail requesting information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.  Your request is being considered and you will
receive the information requested within the statutory timescale of 20
working days as defined by the Freedom of Information Act 2000, subject to
the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party.

For your information, the Act defines a number of exemptions which may
prevent release of the information you have requested. There will be an
assessment and if any of the exemption categories apply then the
information will not be released. You will be informed if this is the
case, including your rights of appeal.

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If you have any queries or concerns then please contact me on 01254 380184
or  [1][Hyndburn Borough Council request email] .

Regards

FOI Co-ordinator

______________________________________________________________________

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Dear Sir/Madam,

Your request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 has
been considered and a response follows:

Q1. I would like to know over the past three years what deductions have
been made from councillors allowances which have gone to a political
party, group, or association.

Could the council please break this amount by year and to which political
party, group or association.

A1. Group subs have been deducted from Councillors Allowances as follows:

o Hyndburn Conservative Group Subs

2017/18  £2,100

2016/17  £2,150

2015/16  £2,320

o Hyndburn Labour Group Subs

2017/18  £18,434

2016/17  £18,516

2015/16  £15,505

Q2. Does the council charge for making these payments to political
parties, groups or associations? If so, how much? Could the council
clarify (if it is the case that there are payments) whether tax and NIC is
applied to the allowances prior to the payments being made.

A2. The council doesn't charge for these payments to be processed. The
subs are deducted from net pay after Tax and National Insurance has been
applied to allowances paid to Councillors.

Q3. Could the council state the costs in terms of officer time and bank
charges for transferring funds to political parties, groups or
associations.

A3. It is estimated that the processing of Group Subs cost around £200
labour time and £6 BACS charges per annum. This equates to 1% of the subs
deducted.

If you have any queries or concerns or if you are dissatisfied with the
handling of your request then please contact me at Legal and Democratic
Services, Hyndburn Borough Council, Scaitcliffe House, Ormerod Street,
Accrington, Lancashire BB5 0PF or:  [1][Hyndburn Borough Council request email] 

If you are still dissatisfied then you can also complain to the
Information Commissioner at:

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Telephone:   01625 545 700

[2]www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk 

Yours sincerely

FOI Co-ordinator

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