LOCAL AUTHORITIES:THE MOST common feature of the 12 allowances listed under the local government heading is the warning that if the allowance is removed there will be a risk of staff refusing to carry out the duties.
No figures are provided by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on how much each allowance costs the exchequer annually and how many employees are entitled to them.
However, it is certain the one that applies to most local government employees is the acting allowance where an extra premium is available to those employees who perform duties on a higher grade than their status.
The business case argues that it allows the employer to have duties of the higher level performed in a cost-effective manner and also provides flexibility.
In one of the few specific examples from all 800 cases, it illustrates the case of a general operative taking on driver duties to cover a short-term absence.
“Local authorities have shed more numbers than any other sector: 7,500 since 2008 representing a cut of over 20 per cent,” it stated, pointing to another 850 leaving by the end of February of this year. “If the allowance is not paid then staff may refuse to continue carrying out the duties of the higher grade. This will cause difficulties in delivering services.”
Among the other allowances there is a “dirty money allowance” paid for undertaking duties including work on sewerage facilities, blocked sewers, landfill, tar-spraying, and removal of dead animals.
The case argues it bears a small cost per hour and day and “is insignificant for the co-operating achieved”. It also points out the allowance is not full time but payable only when dirty duties are being performed.
Another unusual allowance is “ice cast”.
It is paid to engineers to be available at any time outside normal working hours to monitor winter weather to ensure that roads are gritted as necessary.
