Lib-Dem Councillors lead the way with allowances transparency

11.39.19am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 2nd Oct 2009

Cotswold District Council's Lib Dem group defy secrecy convention over pay and allowances.

The Lib Dems have volunteered to make their pay public as part of a movement to restore faith in politicians following outrage over the MPs expenses row.

Group leader Cllr Paul Hodgkinson started the initiative to display the Lib Dems' commitment to open democracy and local accountability:

"I was as appalled as anyone by the antics of some MPs and their cavalier indifference to the public. Their actions have tainted politicians at all levels and that is not fair on the decent people who work hard to help their communities."

Cllr Hodgkinson (Churn Valley), who took over as Leader of the Opposition last month,

added: "There should be nothing hidden at all. That's why we're publishing on our website every penny each of the Lib Dem councillors has received from the taxpayer for their work in the community."

The ground-breaking move will list each councillor's allowance and travel expenses over the last year. Cllr Hodgkinson hopes the initiative will encourage more openness at local level.

"We believe in open democracy with the public having access to everything they can. They have a right to know what decisions are being made by CDC, who is making them and how much they claim. We are the only councillors in Gloucestershire who have been willing to publish their pay on-line and we hope others follow."

"This is just one small step forward but we hope it will help lift the veil of secrecy which surrounds some Cabinet decisions such as the deeply unpopular 50 per cent cut in the Cirencester CCTV contract."

"People want transparency through all aspects of local government."

The full breakdown of Lib Dem councillors' expenses can be viewed by clicking on the menu button in the left hand column.