A controversial plan to pay off councillors up to �20,000 so they do not stand in next year's elections has been narrowly approved in a vote at the Welsh assembly. The idea behind the proposal is to try and change the shape of county councils by encouraging the old to retire and make way for the young.
There are well over 1,200 councillors in Wales - a third of those are over 65. All those who had served for at least 16 years, would be entitled to �1,000 for each year - up to a maximum of �20,000.
Among the dissenting voices, one Conservative Assembly Member accused the assembly government of using taxpayers' money to "bribe" councillors.
Should we be paying councillors to retire from their jobs? Is it a good use of taxpayers' money?
This debate is now closed. Thank you for your e-mails. The comments published reflect the balance of views received:
�20.000 pay-out for them to step down? Has the Welsh government gone mad? They should be sent off into their retirement like the rest of us! Sixty for women, 65 for men. They have already been paid for their services. This is again plain-daylight robbery and plundering of public moneys, giving us another rise in council tax. This 'bribe' of �20.000 should be spent on public services, hospitals and care for the elderly.
Mary de Lange, Mid Glamorgan
There should never be such a misuse of our money to pay people off, make them retire and bring in younger people. That third over 65 must all be in Ceredigion by way of their decision locally. That means we could pay 396 councillors �20,000 each. Schools, hospitals and local amenities spring to mind. Could be throwing away �7,920,000 - a lot of money for us in Wales. But there we are - what else does the assembly do apart from talk and waste a lot of our money ?
Tegid Roberts, Ceredigion
Our councils are filled with white, middle class, straight old men and I'm all for any move to make councils representative of the people they are meant to represent. But let's get more people involved before we get rid of the dead wood, not after.
Anna Wood, Wales
Another crazy idea from the organisation that only one in four of Welsh people wanted in the first place! No-one is allowed to serve as a magistrate or member of a jury over the age of 70. So why not have a similar law for councillors? And without the pay-offs! Yet another example of Labour being out of touch with its 'grass roots'. Roger Evans former Labour county councillor
Roger Evans, Wales
 |  Why should councillors get large payoffs when they get paid large amounts of money for doing absolutely nothing  |
This is quite one of the most hare brained votes in the Welsh assembly that we have ever come across. The idea of encouraging young people to stand for councils will not be solved by paying off people for having served their community. Far better that councillors made themselves more visible, accountable and accessible to the voters. At the moment most young potential voters have no idea of the role and would benefit from real exposure to it through a series of road shows and genuine attempts to demonstrate council work outside the confines of the council chamber where political stances get in the way of progress. We are firmly opposed to the idea of paying councillors to retire, even worse would be to have a mandatory retirement age when we would lose good people as well as the "hangers on"
Chris and Carolyn Hunt, Wales It is not at all democratic. There should be a retirement age - 70 years - but no golden handshake. It would be more beneficial to offer some constructive help to the ordinary person as an incentive - eg job protection, meaningful allowances and encouragement for younger men or women and ethnic minorities. Not this way.
Sandra Betty, Wales
Shouldn't it be us who decide if they have done a good enough job to have that money? After all it is us (the public) who are their employers, but it seems that the politicians have forgotten that fact. They were elected to help the public, not themselves
Phillip Evans, UK
As a local authority worker, I find this idea disgusting. They get paid for what they do and overpaid at that. Our council taxes will have to go up a record level again to pay for them. The department I work in is going through a series of job losses. People with skills are losing jobs - is this fair?
Mike Williams, Wales
Definitely not -- give to old age pensioners
Leighton Northover, France
Why should councillors get large payoffs when they get paid large amounts of money for doing absolutely nothing
Steven Webb, England
Unlike other pensioners they will not have to worry about how to pay their council taxes for the next fifteen years.
Walsh, Malaysia
| I am absolutely amazed that public money can be thrown down the drain in this fashion. I am a young councillor in England (I am in my mid 20's) and I can see any such scheme being abused by those who plan to retire anyway or those who realise their chances of re-election are slim |
The people voted them in, and the people will vote them out. It's a question of time.
Hamed Kreishan, Wales If this paves the way for more candidates from the minority ethnic community, then all the better for fairer representation of the electorate.
Miles Waterson, Wales
I was foolish enough think the assembly would be good for Wales but was so wrong. They are wasting millions of pounds on unnecessary things and now this!!!! They should be ashamed. This money could help the NHS, provide more police, and other important things. Why should they be paid? Years ago a councillor was always there for the people but not any more. In my area there are cut backs, charges being made for the elderly (which they cannot afford). There are too many 'chiefs' and not enough 'Indians' and they are wasting so much money. I shall never vote for the assembly again - even doubtful about voting for councillors too.
Margaret, Wales
Looks like a cheap way to get rid of dead wood to me. Otherwise, look at the cost years down the line of repairing the damage done by their out-dated, short-sighted thinking.
Ian, Brit in USA
Do you honestly think that someone on the council would accept a �20K bung when they probably get a lot more than that in kickbacks from grateful business people that are awarded contracts? Or is it they don't think the council tax has been increased enough so they are looking for even more ways to waste our money??
Duncan, UK
I am absolutely amazed that public money can be thrown down the drain in this fashion. I am a young councillor in England (I am in my mid 20's) and I can see any such scheme being abused by those who plan to retire anyway or those who realise their chances of re-election are slim. It could also backfire as someone who started at my age would be thirty nine when they reached 16 years service. They could take the money and be replaced by some in their sixties.
Kevin Foster, England
Here's a crazy thought. How about letting the electorate decide who it elects from the choices available? If someone is 93 but wants to stand, and the electorate vote for them then why shouldn't they be a councillor? When the electorate want them out the voting pattern will remove them. Dumping someone just for being old is bizarre at best, and this is a criminal waste of money raised from extortionate taxation.
Dave Tankard, UK
Of course, the majority of people complaining are Welsh - it's our assembly that has voted to bring in this idea for Welsh councils!! I'm sure they will have no qualms in raising our council tax to pay for this idea either - talk about one hand washes the other!
S Lovell, Wales
I suppose we have to recognise the fact that we are moving towards increasingly towards an era of professional paid politicians. Politics is now an industry and payoffs do happen in other industries to get rid of people you don't want anymore, I don't like it, but I suppose the only alternative is to massively increase councillors wages which would increase the incentive and competition to be a councillor in the elections next year, and hopefully bring in better people. At the moment there's not exactly massive competition to be a councillor. The volunteer system was effectively abandoned a few years ago, but the wages as they stand aren't exactly going to attract people to give up their existing job.
Geraint, Wales
| Just give 'em the money. If they don't get it this way, all they'll do is work out a different scam to get even more. |
The best solution would be to get rid of the assembly. Never has so little good been done by so many for so few.
Sylvia, UK I would prefer a change in the law nationally for both parliament and local council members for a maximum time in office. This would bring in 'new blood' for new ideas far more effectively than paying a few to leave.
Tony, UK
Ahem, 'scuse me for saying, but aren't councillors supposed to be there to help their communities? Not help themselves, or do i have it wrong?
Peter, Portsmouth U.K
Why not shoot everyone when they reach the age of 65? It seems that this country has less and less regard for age and experience. I note that the majority complaining about this are from Wales but I assume that they are the same people who voted these councillors in and thought that they were worthy for the job. Why suddenly turn on them because of age? Pure and utter ageism and disgraceful! If people are not up to the job then the voters have their say on past record not age. Those advocating this should be ashamed and are not worthy to sit on a 'so called' democratic body.
DMT, England
Just give 'em the money. If they don't get it this way, all they'll do is work out a different scam to get even more.
Ade Lawson, UK
What nonsense!! It seems to me that councillors expect to be re-elected, and have in no way attempted to recruit younger replacements. It's outrageous they should be paid to make way for younger people to becomer councillors. So much of what council does appears to be done behind closed doors, with many cosy decisions made before public consultations that younger folk aren't interested in some thing they see as secretive, old school and not at all accountable to the electorate.
Martin Unwin, Wales
They should hang their heads in shame.
Linda Webber, Wales
Surely we have nothing to worry about here ? No councillor would demonstrate such a lack of civic responsibility (or be stupid enough) to take this money ? Or would they? It will be interesting to see who will be first to climb aboard this new gravy train now leaving the assembly building.
Peter, Wales
| Wasting our money as usual. What happened to elections? |
All councillors should finish at 65 without a "bribe" to finish. Why not make a time limit of 10 yrs for any councillor and then they 'have to finish' and let a younger person 'take over'?
C P Monger, Wales Yet again, with all the problems we have in Wales - health, unemployment etc - we now will be throwing taxpayers money to people who have already creamed local government over the years. It is time to let the young take over. It is an insult to the Welsh people. They should retire automatically at 65. They are only there for the money - have no real interest in moving Wales forward.
Lee Llewellyn, Wales
Wasting our money as usual. What happened to elections?
Brian Parry, Wales
This is a return to the very worst nepotistic practices associated with old Labour in south east Wales. What has happened to the idea of councillors providing a public service? In any event they are well rewarded in terms of expenses. If the stated aim is to encourage the young, then steps should be taken to make the role of councillor more appealing to particular age groups or sections of society. To say I find this idea appalling is an understatement .
Nic Lanagan, Wales
I live in Pembrokeshire where we get more than our fair share of 'yob culture!' The reason for this is not just because we have a high unemployment rate, but also because there is completely nothing for young people to do! There are no decent shops, pubs, or clubs where I live, simply because the council is too scared of change! I'm sick and tired of seeing the rest of the moving on into the 21st Century while we still haven't moved into the 20th! Of course their definitely needs to be a change in how councils are run. However. pay-offs are hardly the answer! Its simply a waste of taxpayer's money that could be better spent. The problem is apathy at local council elections, it's high time that young people started voicing their opinions!
Mark, Pembrokeshire, Wales
NO!NO! 20,000 TIMES NO! Enough! I say, I've always been against the payment of councillors and, if given the opportunity, will vote against any such proposal, or anyone who promotes this monstrous imposition on the taxpayer. This from a lifelong socialist and previously 100% Labour supporter.
Donald Millward, Wales
| The Welsh assembly is not only seen to be a waste of public money, but also seems to waste public money. |
Old people are resistant to change. How keen are we to have the good folk from our local old folks' home deciding whether to put in a skater arena or another bed of dreary municipal pelargoniums in our local parks?
Mike Wijnhofen, UK I am disgusted at golden handshakes for councillors. My grandfather was Mayor of Port Talbot twice and freeman of the borough. He was a councillor on the old Margam District Council and held the position of Alderman up to the time of his death in 1953. The second time he was mayor in 1952. It was the first time a mayor had a car at his disposal a taxi and if that was unavailable hard luck. There was also an allowance of �250 to keep a supply of drinks to entertain visitors to the mayor's parlour. He was well out-of-pocket at the end of his year but he did not serve for money but for his town. I have his casket which was presented to him on being made a freeman in my care
Byron Sambrook, Wales
I am one of those, ashamed to think that I voted for this assembly, believing that it was for the benefit of the people. Too late to change my vote now, isn't it?
Bruce Cook, Wales
The simple answer is NO. The Welsh assembly is not only seen to be a waste of public money, but also seems to waste public money.
T D Spencer, UK
Councillor pay-offs. Laughable!!! Most councillors sit for the prestige and to take advantage of the 'power' plus get paid for it. Furthermore 75% make a complete mess of it. They enjoy it - why are we paying them a golden handshake for their fun.
S Evans, Wales
The Labour government is simply giving its faithful, old flock a golden handshake for all those years of loyally sticking their hands up in the air. Just 20 of those handshakes would have been enough to save the National Botanic Garden for a year.
Huw Jackson, Lloegr
| I think the money should be available to help and or encourage younger people to enter politics. The electorate can then have the choice on who they want in office. |
I suggest they pay all assembly members �20,000 and close down the assembly. It would be money well spent.
R.Bond, UK The point is not that the route to council seats is blocked for women and ethnic groups by older men: it is blocked by the structure of local government since 1996. It is simply not possible for younger people to combine a job and council work. Many senior councillors have had to stop working in order to have the time to carry out their duties. And why should the mere fact of being younger automatically mean that the person will make a better contribution? Is this not simple ageism?
Jim Criddle, Wales
Organised criminal activity in democratic clothing! But at the end of the day, this is the price to be paid for public disinterest in the political process.
Brendan, Japan
This is bribery. Some older councillors need to go (without the bribe) Some, however have VERY useful experience and the time to do the job properly because they are retired. I am wondering what the assembly has up it's sleeve next that it sees fit to remove the older more experienced people who may be able to 'rumble' suspect assembly schemes because of their experience. Fresher blood is to be encouraged by all means but these pay offs?....NOOOOOOOO!
J. Murray, Wales
Now you can see why the majority of Welsh people disapproved of the assembly in the first place. Their priorities are inconceivable. How dare they spend our hard earned money in this way when hospitals, schools, crime desperately need money? These so called "do gooders" receive good money - half of them just for turning up to council meetings and little else. I say at 65 they should step down and be grateful for all the money and perks that they have enjoyed.
Eric James, Wales
I think the money should be available to help and or encourage younger people to enter politics. The electorate can then have the choice on who they want in office.
Simon Prior, Llanelli
| I think this is disgusting. It makes a farce of the democratic process and will discourage people to vote. |
Total waste of public money. Councils should find ways of encouraging younger candidates and let the voters decide at the next local elections.
Arfor Jones, Wales I don't agree with a pay-off, if they were in industry and coming to retirement age, they are NOT given a golden handshake. There are plenty of more needy cases, such as the local hospitals that would benefit from this money. What about the Noah's Ark appeal? if you have funds to spare give it to them not people who have been paid well for their services over the years, if they are complaining, they shouldn't be doing the job in the first place. They are definitely in the wrong to take this money.
M Jones, Wales
We should not be paying this money to bribe councillors to retire. They have made plenty of money during the years and will be laughing all the way to the bank. If such money is available it should go to the health service or schools.
M Treasure, Wales
This plan is morally and financially wrong. The councillors have been paid for doing their job (or not, as the case may be argued). If they are not able or willing to carry on they should just retire, and not be paid out of public funds, so to do. The only incentive younger people will have to become a councillor is to look forward to a pay-of when they get older.
Howard Griffiths, South Wales
The idea of paying councillors to stand aside at the next election is disgraceful. If the Labour Party believes that older councillors should not be reselected to stand then the party should bite the bullet and select other candidates. If an age limit is to be applied to local democracy!! then set one and simply retire them at the appropriate age. There is more than a hint of corruption in this proposal.
Mary Magness,
I think this is disgusting. It makes a farce of the democratic process and will discourage people to vote.
Simon, Wales
Its little wonder that politicians command such little respect. This is a corrupt waste of taxpayers money. Lets get rid of the assembly as well as self-interested councillors.
John Griffiths, Wales It is absolutely appalling that councillors should be given a �20000 golden handshake. Council tax is about to rise significantly and I certainly don't want any of my hard-earned money going to a group of money grabbing councillors. Our money should be going into schools and hospitals not into the pockets of councillors.
Alison Jenkins, Wales
I think it is disgraceful to be giving away more money to councillors that should have retired if they are over 65, and if they just want to leave then they should simply be allowed to go. This is another case of politicians voting to give hand outs to other politicians. It is just another case of greed.
Mr C Bennett, Swansea, Wales
Having grown up in north Wales and moved to London, at the age of 26 I am the youngest councillor in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and part of the administration. This is a clear acknowledgement by Labour that it believes its older councillors are in-effective. Labour clearly doesn't have the guts to tell its local parties to buck-up their ideas and start improving their dire selection processes to let younger more effective people through.
Cllr Rob Lee, UK
The "golden handshake" payoff could lead to a situation where councillors who think that they could potentially lose their seat at the next election could opt for the payoff rather than lose their council income altogether. I agree that councillors over the age of 65 should be recompensed for long service as in any other job but for those under 65 this is unacceptable. It sounds to me as if the Labour party are worried that they may lose seats at the local government elections and want to take the money and run while they still can.
Helen Ceri Jones, Wales
Councillors should retire at 65 like everyone else but should get a pension - not a golden handshake. The money should go to the NHS.
Michael, Caerphilly, S Wales
| I have always felt that councillors, and MP should only be allowed to stand for 3-4 terms. Otherwise all we get, is what we have now, professional politicians, with no idea about real life. Their only concern being how to get re-elected |
I have just seen on your news trailer that the Welsh Assembly has backed plans to, in effect, give local councillors a golden handshake if they retire. Surely this can't be right. Councillors are voted in to serve their community on a voluntary basis. I agree that they should receive due remuneration for expenses incurred, but to be given a golden handshake of this nature is a gross waste of public funds and should be rejected. Magistrates, who also provide a service to the community, receive nothing for their time except thanks, and they certainly don't receive anything when they retire, except the admiration of the public for providing a very valuable and at times difficult service. I am appalled at this decision, and as a tax payer in Wales wonder what other ways the Welsh Assembly will dream up of wasting our taxes!!!!
D.K. Collins Newport .I am a former district councillor on a Welsh council and this proposal is appalling. If you want to get rid of old councillors bar them from standing.Stan Stennett very good comedian once said on stage in Cardiff "Wales has the best councillors that money can buy" and now it seems that they are being paid off too. Absolutely outrageous and an insult to Wales and its people.
Barry Hewartson, France
Councillors should not get a penny. They become councillors off their own back, nobody forced them to enter local politics. The only money they should receive are out of pocket expenses and not a farthing more. As for receiving �20.000, it is obscene.
John Heavens, Wales
It is yet another example of politicians thinking of themselves rather that the electorate.
Mike, Wales
At a time when most councils are struggling to provide even the most basic services I can think of far better ways to spend local tax payers money. There had better not be even a whiff of a rise in charges next year if there is enough cash gathering dust for this sort of nonsense.
Ian Jordan, South Wales
I have always felt that councillors, and MP should only be allowed to stand for 3-4 terms. Otherwise all we get, is what we have now, professional politicians, with no idea about real life. Their only concern being how to get re-elected.
Mike, UK
Absolutely not. What happened to accountability and value for money? How about these 'councillors' account for every thing they have done and for every expense - I bet they haven't earnt half the money they have been paid and in no way are value for money! Not surprising that so many people are not interested in politics, local or otherwise.
Ken, Hemel, UK
How can they say these people are unrepresentative? The people voted for them (The ones that could be bothered) and therefore, if they need changing, the electorate will do it at the next election. I, for one, am getting a little more that annoyed at the pointless waste of tax payers money on dumb ideas like this.
Alex Moon, UK
Run down school buildings, higher council tax, pot-holed roads, poverty rife - and this !! More money for the boys.
Andrew, South Wales
| Should we have the Welsh Assembly at all? Is it a good use of taxpayers' money? No. How about another University Hospital of Wales? Yes. |
Great, just as yesterday's news told us that Anglesey Council might have to increase taxes because of maladministration in previous years, we get this today, I guess I just hand over my pay cheque each month!! what an absurd thing and could only be voted in by councillors.
Sharon, Wales Run down school buildings, higher council tax, pot-holed roads, poverty rife - and this !! More money for the boys.
Andrew, South Wales
Hilarious! "Okay, okay, even though I'm popular and you voted me in I'll stand down. But, I was hoping to buy a new boat so how about �40,000. What do you say?"
R.C.Robjohn, UK
It's bad enough that party politics is involved in local councils in the first place, let alone the obsession with youth taking over as well. I'd rather have an experienced older local person voting for their community's need than some young trendy voting because that's how he's been told to vote by a national political party.
David Priddy, UK
Should we have the Welsh Assembly at all? Is it a good use of taxpayers' money? No. How about another University Hospital of Wales? Yes.
Robert, Wales
Simple: limit the number of consecutive terms a councillor can serve to three.
Guy Chapman, UK
| Disgraceful. Totally and utterly disgraceful. |
What a disgusting idea. Pay off's for the cronies and an impending massive rise in Council Tax to fund it. I notice that it was voted in by many of the cronies in the Assembly that voted in their own inflation busting pay and pension increases. Wales and the UK in general is becoming an intolerable place to live.
This decision only goes to prove that politicians are only interested in schemes that benefit themselves.
H Grifiths, Wales Christos, UK
Disgraceful. Totally and utterly disgraceful.
Mina, Vale of Glamorgan
Why "bribe" them to leave, surely they should be assessed on what they have contributed to the councils/communities they are leading. Most of these councillors have contributed absolutely nothing, with only themselves making a gain.
Wyn Whomsley, Wales/Switzerland
NO! By all means introduce a maximum term for which they can serve but no pay-offs. It's interesting to know, given that most younger people are struggling to balance work and home life, where the younger candidates will come from. I've though of standing as a councillor but simply don't have the time.
Jeff, UK
Fantastic idea but why stop with some of them. Give them all 20000 and tell them to find a similar job with similar perks. They are after all only paying vast increases to "match the market rate". (Anyone got an application form for becoming a councillor sounds good to me).
Pete, Wales.
Perhaps people are seeing where the real money wasting comes in local authorities - the politicians and not the staff!
Mark, UK
| Surely it's the younger people who need the money, not the oldies. |
Every year there is a decrease in the vote turn-out for council elections. This is of no surprise when the ordinary person on the street sees this blatant abuse of power. This is utterly disgraceful and if there is to be a vote then let the people vote NOT the privileged few who are obviously going to vote in favour of themselves.
Steve, Wales
There's already a mechanism for getting rid of older councillors, the ballot box, and it doesn't incur any additional charges. Older councillors, and younger ones for that matter, are there because they've been elected and those repeatedly elected are obviously doing a better job than anyone else who has attempted to stand for their councils. Moreover, older people often have more time to devote to council business apart from being more experienced and perhaps wiser in making difficult decisions. We don't need to get rid of older councillors; we need to get rid people whose ideas are as half-baked, costly and inappropriate as this!
John M, LyneMeads, UK
Surely it's the younger people who need the money, not the oldies. The pressure of work, travel, debts, and taxes is growing all the time. Is it any surprise that most younger people need all their time just to stay afloat, leaving none to spare for voluntary activities such as serving on the council.
Steve, UK
Another idiotic scheme, this money could be spent on the children's hospital. I just hope these idiots in the assembly are never given the opportunity to raise taxes, because they could never be trusted
Phil Harries, Wales
| What an ageist policy! It's only because the young have such financial pressures - income tax, council tax etc - that we can't afford to donate our time to local council work. |
We need a better reflection of society on our councils, but pay offs is not the way to achieve it. Why not simply restrict councillors to sitting for 3 or 4 terms, then there would be no need to pay off those who had been in the job too long, as they'd have to go anyway. After all, you can't be president of the USA for more than 2 terms!
Rob Phillips, Wales
What an ageist policy! It's only because the young have such financial pressures - income tax, council tax etc - that we can't afford to donate our time to local council work.
Alison, Leeds, UK
This is a bit like how think tanks have speculated that the British monarch will always be very old, given how long the royals seem to take to die, thereby making them uninteresting to the public. The reality, as with this question about elderly councillors, is that their ages are similar to the average ages of the society they represent.
Graeme Phillips, Germany, normally UK
Fantastic! I think I'll stand for the next election. I'll promise the earth, fail to deliver and get �20,000 for my trouble.
Steve G, UK
Why was our council tax increase this year so high if you can contemplate paying this ridiculous sum to non-deserving councillors.
Brenda , Wales
| Another off the wall idea from the Welsh Assembly. How much will we have to pay to close them down? They should spend less time talking about themselves and more working for Wales. |
If someone wants to stand and the electorate vote for them why should they have to stand down in the first place? If the electorate doesn't vote for them why should taxpayer's money be used to provide a payoff? Either way it seems like councillors feathering their own nest using money the taxpayer has no choice but to pay.
John B, UK
Now we know where our every increasing council tax is going. It looks like being a councillor is like joining a gravy train..
Gareth Thomas, Wales
Absolutely not !! I don't believe they should be paid at all apart from expenses, maybe then our council tax would come down instead of going up and up every year !
Christine, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
Another off the wall idea from the Welsh Assembly. How much will we have to pay to close them down? They should spend less time talking about themselves and more working for Wales.
Jerry, Wales
You become a councillor voluntarily. How many other volunteers get monetary allowances and other perks. This being said no payment should be made to people who are to old or just not capable of doing the job. I have every respect for the people that stand and devote time but this is one step to far.
Helen, Wales
| >They've already been paid for their services. If they want to leave, well, just leave |
Standing for the council is something that should be done out of wanting to serve the local community. Councillors should not expect a pay off nor should they be using such an honour to put off their retirement. It is ludicrous to use public money to persuade councillors of retirement age to retire.
Mark, Wales
Most certainly not!
Ken Armitage, England
It just goes to show how far the wonderful Welsh Assembly will go to bypass democracy.
Steve Brookman, Wales
I think there should be a compulsory kick out age.
Mrs Costello, Bridgend
They've already been paid for their services. If they want to leave, well, just leave
Mr Morris, Ebbw Vale
They don't need the money - they should retire gracefully.
Mrs Evans, Welshpool
Given the levels of waste, inefficiency, incompetence and corruption with the councils the money would be better spent cleaning up the existing systems.
Spending tax payers money on the undeserving is a disgrace. It should be spent on delivering the services that the councils should, and are not, delivering to the victims of their incompetence.
Tim, Wales
| The money should go on hospitals |
As a general principle, no, I don't support the idea. If people don't want to be represented by elderly councillors they can vote for someone else. If an individual party want younger councillors they can select younger candidates. However, I can't support the idea or a referendum on the issue either. I'm sure there will be some councils where the cost of a referendum will be greater than the cost of the pay-offs.
Simon, UK
I don't think people should be bribed to retire.
Mrs Thomas, Aberporth
The money should go on hospitals.
Miss Roberts, Cardiff
They've been paid enough up to the time they're 65 without being given �20,000 to retire.
Mr Jones, Anglesey
I am totally opposed to the payments. If someone wants to stand for election, they should do so because they want to. Not because they are a certain age, and fill certain boxes and criteria.
At the full Council Meeting on Thursday in Cardiff, I'll be speaking against this item and will ask for further clarification on the issues which relate to the legislation which appears to have no clause in place which would prevent Members for standing again for office in the future. Also, there is no age limit. Technically, if someone was elected at the age of 21 and served 15 years, they would be entitled to the payment at the age of 36.
Cllr Jayne Cowan, Wales
| I'm 72 years old. How can I become a councillor? |
They should retire at the pensionable age and not hang on.
Mrs Hancock, UskA suitably inscribed clock is quite sufficient.
Mr Little, Penmaenmawr
There's no money for street lighting near my home, so where does this extra money come from?
Mrs Jones, Vale of Glamorgan
I object to councillors being paid any money except expenses.
Mr Birchall, Llandudno
I'm 72 years old. How can I become a councillor?
Mr Evans, Port Talbot
They are pretty well-paid and they don't deserve another chunk just to finish work.
Mrs Martin, Penarth
If it results in councillors being a more representative cross section of our society then it will be money well spent. However, it needs to be clearer why there are fewer younger people. Is it "dead men's' shoes", or is there an unwillingness to stand for local office.
Philip, UK
| People are supposed to enter politics to serve the people they represent, not for monetary gain. At one time they were given expenses, now they get allowances. These are often much greater than the actual expense incurred. Don't allow this payment I say |
Absolutely no way!
Cemlyn Richards, Gogledd Cymru A small price to pay to make ALL politicians pack their bags and go.
Ian, England
This is outrageous - another career political payment I have to fund out of my ever increasing taxes.
They should all be made to retire at normal retirement age. They can then be used as consultants by the current politicians, at the politician's own expense, if their experience is thought to be useful.
People in the private sector who retire with golden handshakes have to answer to the shareholders etc.
People are supposed to enter politics to serve the people they represent, not for monetary gain. At one time they were given expenses, now they get allowances. These are often much greater than the actual expense incurred. Don't allow this payment I say.
Dave Ball, Wales
One-Minute World News 
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