Tax funds private medical insurance

Thu, 10 Apr 2008

Liberal Democrat town councillor Andy Watkins was reportedly shocked to discover the expense of providing Wealden District Council employees with private medical insurance policies . The money comes from council tax apparently.

Watkins, who is the town councillor for Polegate, was reportedly shocked at the extent to which the residents of Wealden are funding health insurance for council staff. The total cost is thought to exceed £130,000.

Watkins reportedly commented: "A number of residents who rely on the National Health Service have said to me that it is scandalous that the council is insisting it pays for district council staff to have private medical insurance when they are unable to afford it for themselves and their families. Liberal Democrats on the district council have always opposed providing this private insurance . A councillor's first duty is to speak up for the residents they represent and the Tories, and other councillors who vote for this year after year should be ashamed."

The director of corporate services, Nigel Hannam, was reported in the news as responding: "The private medical insurance is part of an overall pay and benefits package, which we regularly compare with other public sector bodies and local authorities in the south east."
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