How much is the allowance to be Chair of Area Assembly? Go on have a guess...

(See also What your Councillors Cost You)

Go on have a guess...£500?, £1,000?, £5,000?

Give up?

Well, I was slightly flabbergasted to discover that the Area Assembly chair is paid £7,896.
(see page 2 of the linked document)

Don't get me wrong, I think councillors should get allowances for travel, telephones etc and (if we are to encourage more women to be councillors) child care. I'm not against the idea that those who take on greater responsibility should be 'topped' up provided it can be demonstrated that we get value for money.

However, over 7 grand to chair a meeting every three months? I presume that the chair is expected to do slightly more than keep the trouble makers quiet (not that I can find a job description anywhere) but, if there is slightly more to it than being stern I'd like to know what it is and whether Harringay is getting value for money.