Daylight Is Still The Best Disinfectant

As regular readers know - COSLA is a members' club for Scotland's 32 local councils - see post dated 18 March 2011.

Yet COSLA is not covered by the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - despite being funded almost completely by public money raised via its member councils.

The work of COSLA is overseen by a team of 'senior' councillors - a President and four Vice-Presidents who are also councillors in their own local council areas.

At the moment the line-up is:

COSLA President
Councillor Pat Watters - South Lanarkshire Council (Labour)

COSLA Vice-Presidents
Neil Fletcher - Aberdeen City Council (Liberal Democrat)
Alex MacDonald - Western Isles Island Council (Independent)
Corrie McChord - Stilring Council (Labour)
Rob Murray - Angus Council (SNP)

Now the COSLA President and Vice Presidents all get time-off from their normal council duties to deal with COSLA business - as you would expect.

A bit like a local trade union rep getting time off from their employer - to deal with union business.

But the President and Vice Presidents all receive significant sums of public money - for carrying out their COSLA functions - in addition to their local council duties.

"So how much do they get paid?", I hear you ask.

Well that's a secret, apparently - as is the method by which their pay is determined - since COSLA is not covered by Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

The last time I heard the COSLA President received £20,000 a year and the Vice Presidents £10,000 a year.

Even more bizarre is the fact that the four Vice Presidents all declare their COSLA remuneration - in their individual 'register of interests'.

Now the four Vice Presidents don't say how much they receive from COSLA - which is a bit odd - because what's the big secret - it's public money after all?

But at least they register the existence of a payment - as all councillors are required to do by law.

Yet Scotland's most senior councillor - COSLA President, Pat Watters - fails to include this information in his own 'register of interests' at South Lanarkshire Council.

Having checked the council web site this morning - the only remuneration entry for Councillor Pat Watters is:

"07/09/2010 Category 1 Remuneration Director of Cannedheat, 16 Aitken Road, Hamilton (Investigation Company)"

Now why would that be?

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