Councillor spends £9,835 on taxis!

[sheepshagger]

Electioneering is not council buisness and as such is not a legitimate expense. I can not see what other reason for her to attend this tea party as it is hardly a pressing social matter.

[Caeser]

Does anyone have any idea whether she was on council business with expenses attributed to it, or actually paid for the taxi herself in a private capacity, given she does not drive, or is this speculation perhaps more realistically just perhaps all pure idle gossip?

 

I saw her the other day in Lerwick buying a Press and Journal in Conochies. Given the lack of an alternative unrealistic reason, (like wanting for some strange reason to read the news) I came to the conclusion that she charged it to da coonty on her expenses to check out if there was any Waas news she needed to be aware off!

 

I suppose someone somewhere checks out councillors expenses claims. I really cannot see visiting a Waas tea party by taxi would be approved unless she is entitled to community visits or has a reason to attend.

 

I for one cannot see how anyone in their right mind would want to venture out to Waas in February for a tea party with the weather conditions today, unless I absolutely had too!

 

I fully agree however, that SIC expenses needs to be monitored, and unnecessary costs avoided.

[Frances144]

I think you'll find that a Walls tea PLUS a charity shop/jumble sale is a necessity not a luxury!

 

Fx

[trout]

Let's keep this on topic and away from supposition and what amounts to no more than idle gossip!

[Pooks]

Hmm, at this point I would like to remind everyone about the Zet Trans website.

 

It is a worthwhile resource for anybody that might be thinking of booking a taxi when a suitable bus service is also running at the same time. God forbid anybody should do that!

 

The amount of times I have walked or hitched somewhere because my incomings and outgoings couldn't support the ability to get a taxi makes me quite upset when public money (my money) is allowing others to book taxis willy-nilly.

 

I will be interested to hear this years round up of travelling expenses.

[unlinkedstudent]

Mmm, glad someone mentioned hitching.

 

As you lot know, I'm stuck down here in London. Now we really do complain when councillors have taxis when we have buses and tubes. That said, not many females (or males for that matter) would be brave enough to use public transport late at night.

 

When I lived in Bethnal Green yonks ago, a friend was a Liberal Councillor. Now she, I know, really would not have had the time to learn to drive but then in addition to being a Councillor, she was also a Teacher.

 

Surely there is some complaints procedure re any SIC matter which if you don't get a satisfactory response, there is then an Ombudsman who can investigate. Now that would be interesting - would any fraud be uncovered?

[Pooks]

If I happened to be employed at a company who found me worthy enough to pay for a taxi every time I had to get to work then I would be delighted.

 

At the same time I wouldn't expect that company to then apply for grants from the government to assist in my transport.

[pete bogg]

As an environmentally responsible council such as supporting windfarms and public transport, one would hope the good councillor has explored the concept of car sharing as I am sure there may well be individuals passing whiteness. Frank Robertson and gang. Residents association is presumably held fairly local.

Council employees are encouraged to do this in fact there may even be a poloicy fo it, so practice what you preach!

[Spinner72]

Not a policy as such, but the council do encourage car sharing, as is evident in thier promotion of the If you care-share website, partly run by ZetTrans.

 

Unfortunately, despite this, the taxi bill went up considerably to £12,693.09 this year..

 

Shetland News LINK

[tarotangel]

I still don't get why she needs to rely on taxis to get everywhere.

[glipper]

Its an utter disgrace how they let her spend this on taxi's when they are trying to cut back on every thing else..i work for the council and i can hardly get a boiler suit or a pair o boot out off them

[Guest Anonymous]

This particular expenses disgrace begs 2 questions:

 

Firstly: Is there any relationship between the taxi provider and the councilor? (Innocent question, but one that would be asked in Westmeinster)

 

Secondly: Could it not be held as true, that it is not the councilor who is at fault, but the public who voted that person into office? Surely the voting public who elected her knew that the authority is obliged to pay for transport expenses for elected members to attend meetings, and since she does not drive, and lives off a bus route, she would be obliged to take taxis to fulfill her duty as a representative of the public who voted for her.

 

I, off course, sit firmly in the same camp as most Shetlinkers, who have to pay their own way to get to their place of employment. I've never been lucky enough to be an SIC employee who can screw enough from "essential mileage", to be able to run an Audi or BMW.

 

A'm Geeng afore I get shot doon by da SIC employees dat post on Shetlink while dir getting paid ta wirk fir Shetland.

That, of course, actually indicates a third question,,,which it's better not to even contemplate asking..

 

[DavrossT]

lives off a bus route

Half a mile off a bus route!

[unlinkedstudent]

But WHY can't she learn to drive?

 

Everyone is telling me that you have the best roads with hardly any traffic. Crumbs, I move up tomorrow from London (give me a couple of days to reach ya LOL), haven't driven in about 20 years but having a couple of refresher lessons.

 

Now if she was living in London and didn't want to drive I could understand it. Or is it for health reasons she cannot drive? Ah yes, of course it is - that old chestnut of not having the time - absolute RUBBISH!

 

Most of the driving instructors in Shetland have a waiting list - now if she can't diarise for lessons then, quite frankly, how can she diarise to fit in her council duties? Perhaps I should offer her my secretarial services when I arrive ...

 

Blimey, it would be cheaper for the Council to pay for her driving lessons.

[JustMe]

 

Is there any relationship between the taxi provider and the councillor? (Innocent question, but one that would be asked in Westminster)

Even if there was such a relationship is there anything wrong with using a trusted relative to provide a service that will be paid for by the council no matter who supplies it.