A RATEPAYER has hit out at a perk which means Kirklees councillors get free parking anywhere in Kirklees at any time.
Meltham man Ken Mousley spotted two cars displaying the parking permits and could not believe what he saw.
The permits state: “Elected Member. Valid in all Kirklees pay and display car parks and permit parking zones all days at all times.’’
Both of these are due to expire in May 2010.
Mr Mousley said: “It just stated elected member, but elected member of what, a golf club? I just don’t see why they should not pay to park in Kirklees especially when they have introduced charges for the rest of us and then increased them in recent times.
“If the public has to pay then why shouldn’t they?’’
But Clr Martyn Bolt, Cabinet member for Transportation, said it would be costly for councillors to pay each time they pay to park and then claim the money back through expenses. He said the administration would cost more than the money being claimed.
He confirmed all 70-plus Kirklees councillors get the free permit along with all four MPs who have constituents in the Huddersfield area.
He said meetings dealing with council business go on at all times of the day and evening and people the councillors represent live in areas where there are residents permit parking only so the free passes can be used there as well.
But he did accept that the permits can be used at any time, anywhere even when the councillors are not on council business.
“It would be very difficult to put a limitation on it,’’ he said. “It needs to be a permit where there is no question or ambiguity. It can only be used by the councillors – not their families – and the registration number of the car they drive is on the permit.’’
He said the permit has been agreed by an Independent Review Panel which looks at the whole issue of councillors expenses.
