It's time to check up on who's turning up and who's not when it comes to Havering's Councillors. This is always a controversial blog, that leaves me in trouble with all sorts, but it's important we know what's happening in the Town Hall.
Turning up to meetings is the only things Councillors do. There's casework, visiting residents, attending community groups and so on. In fact, just this week one resident questioned why I'm in the Town Hall so much and not doing things like planting trees?
Well, my answer is that I was elected to represent my residents and stand up for them. Planting a tree is nice, but trying to prevent a harmful budget and scrutinising council decisions is more important to me. Each councillor is different and there is no right or wrong way. As long as you're doing something.
Councillors in Haveirng are paid an allownace of £10,412 to be a councillor. I think that needs to be earned.
It is worth noting that some Councillors have experienced serious illness during this period and so, as always, I want to remind you that I am not passing any personal judgement on these figures. This is just a reporting of the data. I've chosen not to highlight who was ill, as it's not my place to break their news for them. But, please bear that in mind when looking at the data.
So, as per tradition, let's start by looking at how things were last time I did this, in July 2024
Party | Expected At | Attended | % | Avg Missed Meetings |
HRA | 1057 | 920 | 85% | 5.48 |
Con | 608 | 482 | 79% | 7.41 |
Lab | 348 | 302 | 87% | 5.75 |
EHRG | 98 | 82 | 82% | 5.33 |
Ind | 61 | 43 | 77% | 9 |
Before you read on...
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On to the most recent figures.
Overall Attendance
The average Councillor has
Been expected at 53.7 meetings since elections in May 2022 - 1.58 per month
Has attended an average of 44.81 meetings (82%) - 1.32 per month
Using an average meeting length of 2 hours, I conclude that the average Councillor has been in meetings for 89.62 hours since the elections in 2022. For this they have been paid a minimum of £29,480 (pre-tax), which is roughly £328.94 per hour.
Yes, I know meetings is not all a Councillor does....
The Political Groups
To the always juicy bit. Which group has the best attendance?
Labour take the top spot as the having the highest attendance %, attending 88% of all meetings that they are expected at, the independents take the bottom slot at 75%.
Party | Expected At | Attended | % | Avg. meetings missed |
HRA | 1475 | 1273 | 85% | 8.08 |
Cons | 817 | 643 | 77% | 10.23 |
Lab | 403 | 350 | 88% | 7.5 |
EHRG | 131 | 111 | 83% | 6.66 |
Ind | 85 | 58 | 75% | 13.5 |
Top Performers
Who has the best attendance?
I've broken this down into two catergories. Highest % and most attended.
Highest %
Just 1 Councillor maintains their perfect 100% attendance record, down from 3 last time. That honour goes to Cllr Martin Goode (EHRG)
Most attended
Taking the top 10 Councillors, they have been expected at an average of 79.8 meetings and attended an average of 72.5% (91%).
The high attendance % is important because there is little value in being expected at a lot of meetings if you don't turn up.
Party | Expected | Attended | % | Missed | |
Bryan Vincent | HRA | 96 | 84 | 88% | 12 |
David Taylor | Con | 85 | 77 | 91% | 8 |
Ray Morgon | HRA | 80 | 76 | 95% | 4 |
Julie Wilkes | HRA | 83 | 74 | 89% | 9 |
Laurance Garrard | HRA | 88 | 74 | 84% | 14 |
Christine Smith | HRA | 80 | 73 | 91% | 7 |
Gillian Ford | HRA | 79 | 71 | 90% | 8 |
Matthew Stanton | Lab | 72 | 67 | 93% | 5 |
Gerry O'Sullivan | HRA | 66 | 65 | 98% | 1 |
Christopher Wilkins | HRA | 69 | 64 | 93% | 5 |
The Cabinet
Shining the spotlight on the Cabinet today. These members are, arguably, the most important in Havering as they have control over budgets and the direction of departments.
These figures are for the Cabinet Councillors during their entire term, not just their role as a Councillor. All Cabinet members are HRA.
As a whole the cabinet have an average attendance of 91%. They have been expected at an average of 67.50 meetings and attended 61.75
Cabinet Members are paid an additional £25,000 for their role, on top of the basic £10,412.
There is no minimum attendance required to be in such a senior position and in receipt of an additional £25,000 a year.
Councillor | Cabinet Role | Expected At | Attended | % | Missed |
Ray Morgon | Leader | 80 | 76 | 95% | 4 |
Gillian Ford | Deputy Leader / Adults and Wellbeing | 79 | 71 | 90% | 8 |
Christopher Wilkins | Finance | 69 | 64 | 93% | 5 |
Graham Williamson | Regeneration | 63 | 61 | 97% | 2 |
Paul Middleton | Digital Transformation / Customer Service | 63 | 60 | 95% | 3 |
Oscar Ford | Children & Young People | 63 | 59 | 94% | 4 |
Barry Mugglestone | Environment | 59 | 55 | 93% | 4 |
Natasha Summers | Climate Change and Housing Need | 64 | 48 | 75% | 16 |
Councillor's Pay
As I said at the opening, being a Councillor is about more than just turning up to meetings. But, it's the only measure we have.
Taking into consideration the basic allowance paid to Councillors, of £10,412, Councillors have been paid £29,480 since the election (pre-tax). Some will have taken home much more, if they are in receipt of a Special Responsibility Allowance such as being a Chairmen of Cabinet Member.
Cabinet Members will have received £100,234
The Leader has earned £142,834
The Deputy Leader has earned £106,000
Conclusion
These figures don't tell you the whole story.
We can't see who is ill, who is working outside of the meetings, but I do believe it is important for Councillors to turn up to meetings in the Town Hall.
Councillors are not just elected to do the community stuff, although that is nice. We're elected to debate, pass policy, scrutinise decisions and spending, and to make sure you (our residents) get the best from the council.
This is why I obsess over meeting attendance figures. Because if you're not turning up to meetings, where policy is written and changed, then I don't think you can really complain about policy.
Of course, scrutiny starts with self, and this is why I publish all of my payslips for my role as a Councillor. It's also why I am so loud about what I do, so you can keep account of my actions.
I've not got this perfect, but I hope this level of transparency is welcomed.
I also hope you feel that you're getting value for money, as you pay our wages!
Do you think Councillors are good value for money
Yes
No
Unsure
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Your information isn't shared with anyone else, including any political party, and I do not send election campaign material.
Hi David, thanks for the update, however attending meetings is a minimum requirement for this role but the details missing from my perspective, are what are the meetings actually about? How many people are attending each meeting and are they actually achieving anything? My biggest issue is that from an outside perspective there are a huge number of people being paid to attend meetings without a clear strategic vision overall. How can we track what impact or involvement each individual is having and what strategic implications or decisions are being taken because of this?
Very interesting. Have you got a spreadsheet of the raw data for all the councillors? Would be interesting to peruse through myself.
This is very useful, thanks David. In your defence -- and all councillors -- the amount of work in addition to attending meetings is HUGE if the role is done anything like properly. Even saying as you do that meetings might last an average of 2 hours -- well, many meetings might last much longer than that; and councillors have to get there in advance, usually having had to study papers or help work out the policies and plans to put IN the papers. There are loads more meetings of an informal type and then the case work of requests from residents to help sort out problems; and meetings with officers to keep THEM in track. The occasional tree-planting or…