GMB submission to DCLG consultation says case for ending councillors access to pension scheme has not been made

GMB, the union for public services workers, published its response to the proposal from Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) that pension provision for elected councillors and officer holders be ended with them no longer allowed to be in the Local Government Pension Scheme. See notes to editors for copy of submission.

Brian Strutton, GMB National Secretary for Public Services, said:

“In our view the underlying impression given by the consultation paper confirms the low regard in which central Government holds their locally or regionally elected counterparts.

DCLG has drawn very fine distinctions between politicians who are viewed as operating at different levels. The case is made that Greater London Authority members, representing a tier of local government, are paid a salary. The same is true of Police Commissioners. GMB does not believe that, despite the distinction in a salary being paid, there is significant difference between the political roles carried out by these differing functions.

GMB would agree with a tiered member contribution structure that would bring these LGPS members in line with employee counterparts. This case for tiering has been long made and is widely accepted and it would seem appropriate to apply a tiered structure here.

We do have concerns about the disparity between the published table and the contribution structure applying to employees and would welcome moves to align the rates to a uniform level (on the proviso that there is no significant deviation from the overall desired yield).

GMB strongly supports Option 3 as set out in the consultation document. The case for changing the potential for access has not been made. However GMB would be willing to discuss the restructuring of contribution rates for councillors.