….U.K. the rate of employee absence has risen to its highest level in a decade…[it] has reached 4% in 2023, with an average of 4.8 days lost per employee per year. (my emphasis) Source: Absence trends in the United Kingdom: Strategies for effective management – WTW (wtwco.com)
The 2009 ‘expenses scandal’ revealed how British MPs ripped off the taxpayer. Some MPs were jailed. Nonetheless, parliamentary rules protected their pensions. (see Addendum One) Havering’s councillors are angels in comparison.
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Absenteeism amongst councillors is triple the British norm (see Addendum Two). Between 19th January and 13th July 2024, councillors were scheduled for 440 attendances at meetings.1 One councillor could have attended 13,2 whilst the least number was four.3 (Four meetings equate to one every six and a half weeks.)
Councillors, collectively, missed 58 meetings – equivalent to 13.2%. Non-attendance makes scrutiny of policies weak and toxic policies are sometimes implemented. Absenteeism destroys ‘Institutional Memory’ a crucial factor in good decision-making. Havering’s democracy is weakened by indolence.
Attendance at council meetings is one part of a councillor’s duties. Many councillors are active in their communities.4 Obviously this is just one publicly available. Other councillors might be equally assiduous but unavailable for scrutiny.
The principal point is councillors only have a legal duty to attend a meeting every six months. This weakens their commitment.
Addendum One: MPs and their pensions
….former MPs who were jailed in the wake of the parliamentary expenses scandal are also understood to remain entitled to full pension benefits despite their records.
MP pension rules mean there are almost no circumstances under which an MP can be stripped of their pension, with the exception of the most extreme crimes such as treason…. Source MP expenses cheats and sex offenders keep taxpayer-funded pensions (msn.com)
Addendum Two: Council Meeting, 24th July 2024
The shocking absenteeism amongst councillors reached unbelievable levels at this meeting. Of Havering’s 55 councillors 11 were absent = 20%. This is quadruple the national average.
Source: Agenda for Council on Wednesday, 24th July, 2024, 7.30 pm | London Borough of Havering
Notes
1 Councillors attendance summary, 19 January 2024 – 13 July 2024 | The London Borough Of Havering Legally they must attend one council meeting every six months or they forfeit their seat See also Does Havering have too many councillors? – Politics in Havering
2 Chris Wilkins (He missed two, which is 15% absenteeism.)
3 David Godwin and Christine Vickery (they both had full attendance)
4 ‘The heating and hot water have failed, affecting hundreds of residents. The Council is aware of issues but seems reluctant to fix them.’ – The Havering Daily This report is about the community work of Cllrs McKeever and Stanton in Beam Park
Politics in Havering 