St Helena : EXPENSES FOR SPEAKER, DEPUTY SPEAKER AND COUNCILLORS
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Public Relations Information Office) 14.05.2011 (Article Archived on 28.05.2011)
Last week the Secretariat published a summary of individual expenses that were incurred by the Honourable Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Members of the Legislative Council for the seventeen month period 4 November 2009 to 31 March 2011.
EXPENSES FOR SPEAKER, DEPUTY SPEAKER AND COUNCILLORS
Last week the Secretariat published a summary of individual expenses that were incurred by the Honourable Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Members of the Legislative Council for the seventeen month period 4 November 2009 to 31 March 2011.
In response to a number of comments that have been received, an explanation of the expenses is set out below.
The rates of salary and other expenses are as recommended by an Independent Body that was appointed under section 72 of the 2009 Constitution of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha and have been enshrined in legislation.
Salaries
The current rates of salary are as follows:
£’s per annum
Speaker £5,000
Deputy Speaker £2,500 when attending all formal and informal meetings; or £1,250 when not attending these meetings; or £5,000 per annum on a pro rata basis when actually deputising for the Speaker
Legislative Council Members £10,000 (this is the minimum amount paid to an elected Member)
Legislative Council Members who chair a Council Committee but does not serve on:
Executive Council £12,000
Executive Council Members £14,500
Where an Elected Member serves on the Public Accounts Committee, he/she is eligible for an additional £1,000 per annum.
Where an Elected Member is appointed temporarily to sit on Executive Council he/she will be paid, in addition to their normal rate of salary, the difference between their salary and the Executive Council rate on a pro rata basis.
Where an Elected Member other than an Executive Council Member, acts as Chairman of a Council Committee, he/she will be paid, in addition to their normal rate of pay, the difference between their salary and the Committee Chairman’s rate on a pro rata basis.
Expenses
In addition to salaries as set out above, Elected Members are also entitled to the following expenses:
Telephone rental - £4.00 per month
Telephone calls – 6 hours per month, ie £10.80 per month
Internet – £29.99 per month
Computer Equipment and consumables
Mileage – 60p per mile when using personal vehicle for official journeys in connection with their role as an elected Member
The Speaker is entitled to the cost of telephone calls up to 3 hours per month ie £5.40 per month; as well as mileage at 60p per mile when using own vehicle for attendance at formal and informal meetings of Legislative Council. Telephone rental of £4.00 per month and internet costs of £29.99 per month are also payable
The Deputy Speaker is also entitled to cost of telephone calls up to 3 hours per month when actually deputising for the Speaker; and mileage at 60p per mile when using own vehicle for attendance at formal and informal meetings of Legislative Council. Telephone rental of £4.00 per month and internet costs of £29.99 per month are also paid.
In summary, the total amount paid to individuals varies between each Elected Member and depends very much on their respective workloads, the number of Committees and Working Groups they serve on and the length of journeys that they have to make to attend meetings etc.
Correction to statement of expenses published on 6 May 2011.
The statement published on 6 May indicated that Councillor John Cranfield is the Deputy Chairman of the Infrastructure and Utilities Committee. This is not the case as the Deputy Chairman of this Committee is Councillor Brian Isaac.
The statement also incorrectly indicated that Councilllor Brian Isaac is a member of the Wharf Core Group. Councillor Isaac does not serve on this Group.
The Secretariat. 11 May 2011
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