Conservatives in Rochdale last night voted unanimously against the creation of eight new posts paid posts which were proposed to be created by the Labour Party.
The eight post holders who will be known as 'Assistants to Portfolio Holders' are to be paid an additional £2,556 per year each, a total of £20448 per year. Conservative Councillor Robert Clegg addressed last night’s meeting saying that this was a disgrace and, at a time when the council is doing everything it can to cut costs, staff were being made redundant and families are facing tough financial times there should no talk of spending on new posts. He added that these new posts have never been needed before, he did not know what they would be doing for the price and that if such posts were really required they should not be paid. All eight posts have been allocated to Labour councillors.
Other councillors echoed Councillor Clegg’s opinions and such was the feeling that a named vote was called on the matter in which all Labours members present voted in favour and all opposition members present voted against the proposal.