Councillor welcomes end to perks

12.00.00am GMT Tue 28th Feb 2006

Years of subsidised dining for elected members on Leeds City Council will come to an end following an announcement in yesterday's Council budget speech. Councillor Mark Harris (Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader) delivered the news that the Members Dining Room in the Civic Hall will no longer be subsidised by Council Tax Payers. Also announced was a freeze in Councillors allowances, a move that will help save valuable cash for frontline services.

Otley & Yeadon Councillor Ryk Downes has welcomed the news, citing the proposals as further evidence of the Lib Dem led administration's commitment to diverting funds to those that really need it.

Councillor Ryk Downes (Lib Dem, Otley & Yeadon) said "I strongly welcome both the ending of the subsidy and the freezing of members allowances. As elected members we have a duty to look to ourselves first in order to see what savings can be made. By making these savings, no matter how small compared to the bigger picture, we are showing that we are committed to diverting money to those that need it most."

Notes to the Editor:

1. The subsidy for the Members' Dining Room was previously in the region of £105,000 per annum. This year (2005/06), even after allowing Council staff to use the Dining Room, it is still running at a loss of £51,900.

The views in this Press Release are those of the Liberal Democrat Council Group, and not necessarily those of Leeds City Council, its Officers or of the Liberal Democrat Party.