Bernstein may not take election bonus

Article published: Tuesday, June 8th 2010

Chief executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein, is reportedly considering not accepting a £19,000 bonus due to the shambolic running of the General Election count in Manchester.

The claims surfaced amid revelations that returning officers around the country are in line for additional payments of us to £25,000 for their organisation of this years elections.

Troubles that plagued the polls in the May 6 elections include around 300 people being denied their vote due to a surge in late night voters in Fallowfield, which is currently under investigation by the Council. Sir Howard has apologised for the organisation of the polls, following the Electoral Commission branding the counts “chaos”.

Sir Howard has promised a “rigorous review” of election arrangements which will be published soon, after which he make his decision on whether to accept the bonus or not. Bernstein currently receives an annual salary of £199,000 as Chief Executive of Manchester City Council.

Joe Beech

More: Manchester, QuickKick

Comments

[…] It was reported in June that Bernstein would not accept his £19,250 bonus as a result of the shambolic running of the polls. However he later offered to donate £4,000 of his fee to the Lord Mayor’s charity, which provides holidays for families affected by poverty in Manchester. […]
Pingback by Council Chief faces criticism over polling day fiasco — MULE on August 15, 2010 at 8:50 pm

The comments are closed.

Culture

Halloween creatures invade Manchester early: chance to win two tickets to the Illuminaughty Halloween party!

A heavy mist suddenly falls on a darkened Manchester hiding from sight unspeakably hideous creatures. Drums can be heard in the distance lulling you into a hypnotic trance, the work of witches and daemons no doubt. Or perhaps Voodoo ring masters, descending onto the city streets armed with psychedelic beats banged out by their armies of musical Goblins possessed with the desire for mischief and fun. It must be that time of year again; it can only be the Illuminaughty Halloween party.

Science Slam: a synergy of science and poetry transcends expectations

Poetry and science are two things generally not associated with each other, in fact if you joined the two in a word association test you would be one step closer to a chemical cosh and your very own padded cell. However the audience attending the Science Slam at the packed out Nexus Art Cafe Thursday night will never again doubt the validity of the two pursuits being combined; though I can’t rule out they may end up bouncing of the walls of a padded cell at some time in the future.

Review: Greater Manchester Fringe Festival – A Dream Play

We were outside Nexus Art Café in the Northern Quarter, queuing, when a car raced up, the driver shoved a woman to the pavement and the performance began. This was the introduction to the character Aggie in A Dream Play by the Déjà Vu Ensemble, daughter of the gods, who has come to our world to learn what it means to be human.