Forum Topic

Our Councillors. How do they earn a living? 

Our Councillors. How do they earn a living?   This issue is raised in a contribution by Simon Hayes to an existing thread on the Forum.  He writes in respect of payments to councillors: “Bell and Sabiers seem to have it as main income stream”. Sabiers is my ward councillor and I have often wondered how he supports himself.    He has described himself as a writer.  When I searched Amazon for an example of his work, a message came back to the effect that this was an “unknown product”.   I was beginning to wonder whether Mr Sabiers was any more than a benefit claimant with a twitter account, but it seems he might be receiving a small income from the Morning Star, not Satan, worse - the communist publication of that name.  Bell, I believe, is a true-blue aspiring capitalist rentier.  Both of these “representatives” are “unknown products” as far as myself and my neighbours are concerned.  They fail to respond to correspondence.   One matter proved too embarrassing for either: the dubious circumstances in which Paul Najsarek managed to gain employment with Ealing Council. 

Andrew Farmer ● 2172d11 Comments

We agree on something!  ;-)

Rosco White ● 2171d

I think you will find that everyone wants that.  They don't want the Loony Left or Rabid Right either.

Philippa Bond ● 2171d

Agreed, BellEnd and his zealots are leaving an abhorrent legacy and they will go down in history as the Borough Destroyers they are.And they don't give a flying fornication.

Rosco White ● 2172d

To be fair to Cllr Bell he does turn up for the things that matter to him, such as waving an EU flag on top of the Town Hall or going on yet another march against changes to Ealing Hospital.A residents party would be a step in the right direction since the antics at the council meetings are nothing short of embarrassing. Political point scoring by Labour - blaming the Westminster shambles on any ills afflicting Ealing - and boasts about how much progress they have made in eroding any sense of community in the borough with their latest crackpot policies.I’m utterly not interested in party politics of any hue. What I am interested in is having a well-run, efficient, accountable and open local authority.The chickens will truly come home to roost in Ealing a few years from now, when Bell is sunning himself in whatever cosy retirement pad he has lined up. No libraries, filthy streets, potholes, over-development across the borough, and all the rest of it.

Simon Hayes ● 2172d

Regardless of your politics, anyone with more than half a brain would agree that the last Conservative Administration under Jason Stacey was VASTLY better than Comrade BellEnd's incompetent posse.The difference is bigger than even chalk and cheese.

Rosco White ● 2172d

What a sad comparison between the current incumbents and the former administration led by Jason Stacey.Jason gave up his job to work full-time as council leader (well, full-time apart from his 'fag breaks' on the steps of Ealing Town Hall).Jason was seemingly omnipresent something the current 'leader' with five jobs would find difficult to achieve,

N V Brooks ● 2172d

Complete and utter shower aren't they, even the informed Labour voters are embarrassed by them.Campaigning needs to start now to ensure they're ousted at the next local elections but don't expect much from the Conservatives or LibDems there.Our best bet is a strong Residents Party contesting each Ward as has been very successful in Epsom & Ewell. (For over 75 years!) http://www.eegra.org.uk/Committees.htmlI see the main problem though would be that householders may be outnumbered by students and those on various benefits who have a vested interest in voting The Shower back in.

Rosco White ● 2172d

Nice little earners!Cllr Bell defended the allowance system to me by saying it enabled anyone from any background to become a councillor. Perhaps that’s true in theory but, of course, these people presumably had to earn a living before they were elected and would have to do so again if they were kicked off the gravy train at the next election.Unless, it seems, that you have the right mates and found ‘employment’ as a lobbyist or researcher at taxpayers expense. There seem to be very few in the cabinet who have ever had a ‘proper’ job outside the political sphere.There is always the option to elect not to take the allowance but I wonder how often this has been done in recent years....

Simon Hayes ● 2172d

According to the last figures published for 2017/18 here:https://www.ealing.gov.uk/downloads/download/4754/councillors_scheme_of_allowances_2017-18Bell claimed £41808.00Sabiers claimed £25740.00

N V Brooks ● 2172d

Maybe there’s a magic money tree available only to Labour cabinet members.Cllr Sabiers appears to write occasional music reviews for the Morning Star but that’s it. His main income is through his allowances as a councillor. He seems to have authority to make big decisions that have far reaching impacts on Ealing without having any apparent qualifications to do so, other than being a councillor. His knowledge on highway matters is laughable.The 20mph speed limit is justified on the basis that it will ‘save lives’, although zero empirical evidence has been gathered in Ealing to support this contention. Nor was there any consultation on the supposed ‘trial’ of this limit. Of course, questioning this is simply ignored or met with the stock response of ‘it’s to make Ealing a great place to live’.That would be fine if it wasn’t for the fact that a lot of decisions made by these politicians (which is how they see themselves) are actually making Ealing a much worse place to live.But Cllr Sabiers isn’t the only cabinet member seemingly unqualified for the post he holds. The lack of knowledge, awareness and empathy, underscored with breathtaking arrogance, is remarkable.Lots of snouts in the trough, with the only qualification necessary seeming to be unswerving loyalty to Cllr Bell.

Simon Hayes ● 2172d

Easy to check on their declarations of interest on the council website.According to the last declarations.Sabiers works for Unite in their Communications department and declares that he is a 'journalist'.Bell has four sources of income apart from the VERY generous councillor and leader's allowance.1. Assistant to Sharma at Westminster2. Board member at the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation3. Chair of the Transport and Environment committee at London Councils4. Paid Committee member at the LGAPlus of course the house he rents out while living in social housing!

N V Brooks ● 2172d