.
So, what expenses do you receive?
All Runnymede Borough Councillors recieve a basic allowance of £2,068 per year. As the Vice-Chairman of the Corporate Management Committee I receive a further £1,034 per year. The total amount that I receive per annum, as of 6th June 2008, is £3,102.
Councillors in neighbouring Boroughs receive the following: Windsor and Maidenhead (£7,810), Woking (£6,655), Elmbridge (£4,000) and Surrey Heath (£4,257). A full scale of additional allowances payable for councillors with special responsibilities (such as Committee Chairs, Vice Chairs etc) click here. Councillors are also entitled to claim for the cost of petrol or train tickets to attend Council meetings although, up to 6th June 2008, I have yet to claim reimbursement of any of these out-of-pocket costs.
I estimate that I spent around 1.5 days a week on Borough Council work.
All local authorities are required to “appoint an Independent Remuneration Panel to advise on the terms and conditions of their scheme of Members’ Allowances”. In the case of Runnymede, this job is undertaken by Mark Adams (Chairman of the Runnymede Business Partnership and Egham Chamber of Commerce), Arthur Birkby (Runnymede Association of Voluntary Services) and Chris Fisher (Egham Residents’ Association). I am happy to accept their transparent recommendations with regards to the payment of future allowances.
Which policy areas are the Borough Council responsible for?
Runnymede Borough Council is responsible for the management of air quality, allotments, building controls (planning), car parks, cemeteries, community safety, the administration of concessionary travel fares, collecting Council Taxes (both for itself, the Police and the County Council), economic development, administering elections and voter registration, environmental health, emergency planning, floral displays and public gardens, garden waste collection and composting, housing and housing benefits, leisure centres, the licensing of pubs and taxis, protecting listed buildings, museums, playgrounds, public toilets, recycling centres, street cleaning and tourism.
If you live in Englefield Green East (a full list of the roads in the ward can be found by clicking here), please feel free to get in touch with me. If you live elsewhere, a map of wards and their Councillors can be found here.
Which policy areas are the County Council responsible for?
Surrey County Council is responsible for adult education, the care and protection of children and those with disabilities, cycle routes, education, care of the elderly, highway maintenance, libraries, meals on wheels, minerals and quarries, nursery schools, public transport, registration of births, deaths and marriages, street lighting, trading standards and traffic calming measures.
The County Councillor for Englefield Green is Marisa Heath. She can be contacted by the following means:
Members’ Reception
County Hall
Penrhyn Road
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 2DN
07764 247098
marisa.heath@surreycc.gov.uk
Am I, as a member of the public, able to come along to Council meetings?
The majority of the time, yes. Occasionally, decisions need to be made that require Councillors to pass a motion excluding the general public from the Public Gallery (such as when discussing the complex details of the pending property dealings or the salaries of Council staff), yet the vast majorty of the time the general public are more than welcome to attend either full council meetings or committees, the place where the majority of any debate on and revision of proposals takes place. A full list of meeting dates can be found by clicking here.
What are the opening hours of the Civic Offices?
Council
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday – 8.30 am – 5.00 pm
Tuesday – 8.30 am – 5.00 pm, 5.00pm -7.00pm (reception only)
Friday – 8.30 am – 4.30 pm
Saturday – 9.00 am – 5.00 pm (reception only)
Police
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday – 8.30 am – 5.00 pm
Tuesday – 8.30 am – 7.00 pm
Friday – 8.30 am – 4.30 pm
Saturday – 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
Library
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – 9.00 am – 7.00 pm
Wednesday to Saturday – 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
