What do you think of the so-called golden goodbyes?

Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) Council voted against adopting the planned one-off severance payment to councillors who wish to stand down after at least 16 years' service.

Welsh assembly members narrowly voted on Wednesday to allow councillors to claim the money - policy put forward by the Labour government.

The scheme is intended to bring in new blood to local authorities in Wales, making it more representative of the population as a whole.

But Pauline Jarman, leader of the Plaid Cymru-run RCT council, said the payments were a waste of taxpayers' money.

"This proposal is outrageous and I am delighted that RCT council has stood up to New Labour and voted no," she said.

I find it obnoxious that people (in the assembly) who have only entered public life in the last five months are criticising people who have given 20 years' service Lawrence Bailey, Swansea council

"Rhodri Morgan is trying to solve an internal Labour Party problem by bribing elderly Labour councillors not to stand.

"Instead of wasting taxpayers' money, Rhodri should call these people to Cardiff and tell them to their faces that they are not wanted.

"The cost of the scheme would be very high, possibly over a quarter of a million pounds for RCT alone."

All of Wales' 22 local authorities will meet individually to decide on whether to adopt the policy.

In councils which adopt the scheme, long-serving members have until 20 November to decide whether or not to accept the payment and retire at the next local government elections in May or June next year.

RCT council leader Pauline Jarman has criticised the payment plan

If they do stand down, they will be eligible to claim up to �20,000 - or �1,000 for each year of their service, although the sum is subject to tax and National Insurance.

In the assembly debate, opposition parties said the payments were nothing more than an "immoral bribe" and a "democratic culling" of older councillors.

But Vale of Glamorgan council voted in favour of adopting the policy at a meeting on Wednesday evening.

Council leader Jeff James said: "I think it's been badly handled by the assembly.

"Some of the council members weren't happy with it and I understand why the public aren't happy with it.

"But we understand that the assembly is funding it fully, so council voted to accept it."

And Swansea council leader Lawrence Bailey, said the payment to long-serving councillors was correct in principle.

He added: "There was no intelligent debate between assembly members who have a better deal.

"I find it obnoxious that people (in the assembly) who have only entered public life in the last five months are criticising people who have given 20 years' service."