Council attendance levels are criticised

Mrs Hamilton has laid the blame on some 'slack' attendances at the methods of payment for representatives as well as the continued practice of holding more than one elected role.

Speaking to the Sentinel, Mrs Hamilton said that until recent years councillors were paid 22 per day whether they attended one or more meetings. But, she said, the introduction of a system that saw councillors receive 9,000 per annum, which roughly broke down to 22 per day, whether councillors attended or not, has reduced the incentive for representatives to come to meetings.

The UUP woman also criticised the system because she said those who have poor attendance records should not receive the same money as those who have good records.

"Some have pretty good records and some are not good. If you are elected into a position and people put faith in you to represent them you should do your best. After all the taxpayer who is footing the bill for this. If you are going to take an office or be on a committee you should attend.

"It should be good value for money and it is not at the minute," said Mary Hamilton.

The Alderman said that there were of course exceptions for councillors who had suffered long-term illness, but that they public had a right to know exactly what attendance records were made by local government representatives.

On the issue of 'double-jobbing' Mrs Hamilton said: "No man can serve two or three masters."

The UUP woman, a member of the National Association of Councillors, said that councillors needed to receive the same considerations as MLA's.

"MLAs receive pensions if they lose their seats and councillors should be the same."

With regard to the long-awaited Review of Public Administration, Mrs Hamilton said that she hoped a resolution to the issue of how many local bodies would come soon and the money spent on transitional structures had not been wasted.

"There are too many councillors and I think there are too amy MLA's as well. The whole thing is affecting council workers' morale very badly as they do not know whether or not they will have a job in the near future."

Attendance records:

Alderman Campbell: 27 meetings from 64, Alderman Devenney: 93 meetings from 129, Alderman Hamilton: 98 meetings from 104, Alderman Hay: 6 meetings from 61, Alderman Miller: 84 meetings from 89, Alderman Thompson: 85 meetings from 90, Councillor Anderson: 30 meetings from 65, Councillor Bradley: 20 meetings from 74, Councillor Carr: 81 meetings from 88, Councillor Clifford: 86 meetings from 88, Councillor Conway: 56 meetings from 85, Councillor Diver: 40 meetings from 80, Councillor Durkan: 59 meetings from 65, Councillor Eastwood: 89 meetings from 105, Councillor L Fleming: 37 meetings from 79, Councillor P Fleming: 36 meetings from 115, Councillor Gallagher 60 meetings from 88, Councillor Hassan: 68 meetings from 74, Councillor McKeever: 54 meetings from 76, Councillor E McLaughlin: 53 meetings from 75, Councillor M McLaughlin: 34 meetings from 65, Councillor Page: 36 meetings from 85, Councillor Quigley: 56 meetings from 79, Councillor Ramsey: 8 meetings from 65, Councillor Reilly: 27 meetings from 76, Councillor Stevenson: 54 meetings from 65, Councillor Tierney: 55 meetings from 61.