Airport deal – more secrecy
Cllr. Malcolm
Parkin received an additional £2m bonus
The ongoing secrecy over the severance deal and bonuses paid to former Newcastle International Airport bodd John Parkin is doing nothing to enhance the integrity and accountability of local council leaders, it has now reached stage where even local Labour laeders are demanding more openness.
Coun Nick Forbes, leader of the opposition Labour group on Newcastle City Council, said:
“If a settlement has been reached, with multi-million pound bonuses still being paid out and a large legal bill run-up in the process, the public has a right to know how and when this was allowed to happen.”
Newcastle’s Lib-Dem council leader John Shipley said:
“The public will rightly be concerned by this news, even though over £4.7m has been clawed back by the airport. There has been a review of governance arrangements and I understand the airport board will have these in place by May or June. To prevent this happening again it is essential that this is done.”
North East minister and MP for Newcastle East and Wallsend Nick Brown called for an investigation into the matter and Peter Atkinson, Conservative MP for Hexham, has called for details to be made public of how the original bonus deal was agreed.
It is time for South Tyneside Council Leader Iain Malcolm to make a public statement outlining all of the facts in this business and explain exactly what has happened with our money and offer some explanation as to why Mr. Parkin deserved such generous payments. We need to know why the airport has said the dealings of its remuneration committee remain confidential, and why he will keep £2m in the out-of-court settlement – 10 times his salary at the airport.
When dealing with our cash, council leaders who have agreed to these secretive deals owe us the favour of being honest and up front about them!
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