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Ken makes a stand... at half the cost
Reporter: KEN BENNETT
Date online: 08 February 2010
Campaigning Saddleworth Parish councillor Ken Hulme is to stand as an independent candidate for Oldham Council.
The 60-year-old is planning to challenge Councillor Alan Roughley, a Liberal-Democrat, for his seat in Saddleworth’s North Ward in the May elections.
Councillor Hulme, who has served on the parish council since 2003, said: “First and foremost, I am standing because I feel let down by local councillors.
“I think they should be held to account for their poor performance in representing Saddleworth and lack of action and involvement in local issues shown in the past four years.
“We need councillors in Saddleworth who will put Saddleworth first and fight our corner on Oldham Council.
“Too many are transformed into representatives of Oldham Council, instead of representing the local community.
“Perhaps it’s the ridiculously high allowances they receive, but too many act like council employees toeing the Oldham line rather than putting local people and their interests first.
He claimed local Conservatives are in disarray following the selection of its parliamentary candidate and Labour seems more interested in closing Saddleworth libraries.
Councillor Hulme went on: “Saddleworth has one of the highest council tax levels in the country and receives some of the poorest services. We don’t get value for money and for many, especially those on fixed incomes, it has become a real burden. If elected I will not support any budget from any party which involves any increase in the council tax.”
In the coming financial year, he said, Oldham’s 60 councillors will receive £950,000 in allowances and expenses — an average of over £15,000 each.
Councillor Hulme said: “Councillors should only receive ‘out of pocket’ expenses and loss of earnings. It’s healthy for local democracy as well the councils coffers.
“I would campaign for cutting payments to councillors by half and end to the spurious special responsibility allowances.
“I will accept no special responsibility allowances and put my money where my mouth is by only accepting half the current average allowance and no increases in future years.
“If I find it exceeds the costs to me of being a councillor I will donate any surplus to Dr Kershaw’s.”
Councillor Hulme says his membership to the Labour Party lapsed and has not been active in the party since May, 2008.
“I’m a community activist not a Labour activist. I just want to do my best for Saddleworth. Like so many others, I love the place.”
Comments
Having endured the shambolic performances of recent councillors, I would be only too happy to give Ken a chance.
And this is the man who set of on a trans peninne expidetion at the very worst of the winter blizzard and was thanking the mountain rescue for helping him? Well some of us would prefer to elect a councillor with a modicum of common sense and some responsibility for others who might need to rescue them.
Cllr Roughley doesn't seem to think being a Councillor and drawing his allowances actually involves him doing anything in the community. Apart from investing thousands of pounds of our money in the useless personal gritting machines (as much use as a chocolate fire-guard) and campaigning for Denshaw's derelict little public toilets to be turned into a village shop - just what has he done to deserve the tens of thousands of pounds of allowances he had received in the past four years ?
"Who to vote for - Laurel or Hardy!" by Ididsaythat.
What about the local Alley Cat, maybe the Dingles, or what about Vance Miller? Jokes aside - I have no idea!
where dose Ken His miss information from, by using his calculations half the average salary would be more than a Councillor gets now Saddlewoth Councillors not working for their area that’s a lot of rubbish I have attended many meetings at which these councillors have looked after their area Cllr Ruffley is most vociferous
Many Councillors draw no or very little in expenses. So get your facts strait Ken
Sorry Ken but you look like a wolf in sheep clothing or perhaps it’s your just woolly
About the same as the Denshaw Dipstick, Flake. His idea for personal mini-gritters for Sadd folk was a real money saver. How much did we save? Well, the gritters cost us £6,000, but the savings were.....er, nowt, sorry. They didn't work. They're all full of these right good ideas up Saddleworth.
Every village has one, now's your chance to elect him. What's one more idiot amongst the ones we already have running things.
Have Your Say
Who to vote for - Laurel or Hardy!
By Ididsaythat! @ 08/02/2010 12:42:38