It is a known truth in politics that if a party can do well in local elections and get good people on to the local authorities, it is setting itself up for the general election. So the fact that 75-80 per cent of all councillors have applied for early retirement should strike glee into the hearts of party bosses and eager aspirants alike. But it is not as simple as it seems.
The Government introduced the Local Authority Members (Gratuity) Scheme, 1998, ungallantly known as "the scrappage", to encourage elderly councillors to step down and make way for dynamic young people. The deadline for applications for the scheme was two weeks ago. It gives councillors retiring before the June elections £750 per year for up to 20 years' service, and £500 for each extra year, and also goes to those who have stood down since 1991 or the relatives of those who died in office. Some could get a maximum of £25,000.
The numbers applying were far larger than expected, but the Government, or indeed its rivals, who have similar goals regarding June, should not be too joyous. The General Council of County Councils advised all councillors to go for the scrappage on the grounds that if they failed to be selected at conventions, which are only now being held, they could let their application for a nice little retirement sum rest - and if they were selected, they could withdraw it.
The Minister for the Environment, Noel Dempsey, says that normally 20 per cent of councillors step down before each election, but with the nine-year gap and the gratuity, he reckons about 40 per cent, rather than the 80 per cent or so who applied, will go now. At that rate, he says, "I will be happy that there are enough vacancies to allow new people to come forward and contest the elections". He expects the scheme, at 40 per cent uptake, will cost between £4 million and £5 million, depending on numbers and age profile. In the meantime he is preparing a package on local government reform for early next year which will have more good news for councillors. He will be proposing they be paid.
But one word of caution for canny councillors. A list of all who applied for the scrappage by the September deadline will be published. Those who withdraw their name to fight another day at the polls, following selection at convention, can expect some fierce ribbing from opponents on the tidy sum they were in line for. And most of it won't be coming from rival parties.