In late 2006, an Evening Standard Survey, based on freedom of information replies, concluded that the amount paid to the London's 1,861 councillors was £26,018,612 in the year ending April 2006. The Labour mayor of Newham, Sir Robin Wales was the best-paid borough chief in London, taking home £73,977.

I’m not a fan of the Tories, but they have pulled off some stunning results with their latest campaigns in the little borough of Tower Hamlets. The Conservatives’ 2 month campaign to freeze Councillor Allowances reached a successful conclusion this week as Labour were forced to agree to join the campaign and not accept the proposed increases. These increases could have seen the Labour Leader of the Council earn £61,000. This decision comes in the wake of the Conservative Campaign to freeze the allowances deemed unjustified in the 4th most deprived borough in the country.

After first raising the issue at the 13th December Council meeting and January Cabinet meeting and in light of Labour’s refusal to oppose the increases, on 17th January Cllr Simon Rouse, Leader of the Tower Hamlets Conservative Group, wrote directly to all 51 councillors asking them to oppose the planned allowance increases. It did the trick as plans for allowance increases have (for now at least), well and truly been put on the backburner.

As a resident of 30 years I can say that this is excellent news for the people of Tower Hamlets. At the same time as Labour is presiding over the 4th most deprived borough in Tower Hamlets and imposing a devastating increase in council tax, these proposed allowance increases would have been nothing short of a disgrace. The Council owes nothing less to the people of Tower Hamlets who suffer from living in one of the most disadvantaged areas in the country with more than 50% of its children living in poverty; the poorest life expectancy in the country and the 2nd highest unemployment rate.

The proposal came from the report of the Independent Panel appointed by the London Councils to review the remuneration of councillors in London. The report stated that unless the salaries of councillors were raised many people would not consider standing for election. Sadly, this has introduced the element of financial reward into a field that has always been about community service.

In the future rather then allow these changes to be pushed through on the back of a Labour Group whip, all those councillors who have a belief in public service should put their principles before desires for financial benefit and support and extend this current freeze on allowances.

The Leader of the council is currently the 16th highest paid Council Leader in London (this excludes elected Mayors) and Cabinet members are the 11th highest paid in London. The Leader and Cabinet receive these above average allowances despite presiding over some of the worst Council service performance in London, amongst the worst child poverty, amongst the worst overcrowding and the highest unemployment in London. It is nothing short of embarrassing.

Sadly, the big freeze has come on the back of an unjustifiable 4.9% Council Tax increase and cuts to vital services. Stopping these allowance increases is simply one victory in a war to stop Labour’s continued mismanagement of taxpayer money. That fight must go on.

I am not arguing to put a stop to allowances altogether, just parity. If Councillors in boroughs like Tower Hamlets feel that they cannot work without remuneration then they should resign right away. There are hundreds of talented and able individuals who would swim the channel to be given an opportunity to serve their community in such a capacity. Councillor’s should be put on a performance related scheme. These latest developments just go to prove how far out of touch the party is with the electorate.  The vast majority of elected representatives sought to become councillors through a desire to serve their community and make it a better place. This ethos of public service is one that matters a great deal to the community and in the future to vote for such increases in allowances will do irreparable damage to the public’s perception of councillors as they will be seen, I fear, not as servants of the public, but as seekers of financial reward.