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

It follows Wednesday's decision by the Welsh assembly members who narrowly supported a controversial policy of offering 'golden goodbyes' to local councillors who have more than 16 years service.

The Labour run assembly government says the idea behind the policy is to bring in new blood to local authorities in Wales, making it more representative of the population as a whole.

Women, people from ethnic minorities are being particularly targeted.

But opposition parties who voted against the plan say they payments are nothing more than an "immoral bribe" and a "democratic culling" of older councillors.

Those councillors now have until 20 November to decide whether or not to retire at the next local government elections in May or June next year.

If they do stand down, so long as they have been on the council for 16 years, they will be eligible to claim up to �20,000 - or �1,000 for each year of their service.

Sue Essex said the payouts would 'benefit democracy'

Steve Thomas, Head of Policy at the Welsh Local Government Association, welcomed the move to offer the "golden goodbyes".

He said the scheme was about encouraging involvement in local goverment from a wider representation of society.

"We are talking about paying �20,000 to councillors who have given their heart and soul to communities over 16 years."

"If we want people to contibute to a vibrant local democracy we have to up the stakes."

Ahead of the vote there was a mixed opposition to the plan - first put forward in July by Wales' Local Government Minister Sue Essex.

White male

The payments, she claimed, would benefit democracy in Wales by encouraging new, younger candidates to stand.

"This is an important initiative in the drive to encourage more people to enter local government which needs to be made more attractive to people of all ages and backgrounds," she said.

"The typical councillor in Wales is white male, older than the average and retired.

"These people have given sterling service to their communities but we cannot be satisfied with the situation where local government is so unrepresentative of the electorate."

Tory party AMs - who has called for a referendum - said the scheme was the "sale of the century" as well as being "ageist".

This golden goodbye scheme is nothing more than a raid on taxpayers' money to give another little something to Labour councillors who are nervous that they won't hang on to their seats next year Plaid Cymru's Janet Ryder

Conservative leader in the assembly Nick Bourne said: "We believe such payments are nothing more than an immoral bribe designed to have an unacceptable influence on the democratic process.

Plaid Cymru's Janet Ryder asked what guarantee there was that younger candidates would step forward to replace older retiring members.

"This golden goodbye scheme is nothing more than a raid on taxpayers' money to give another little something to Labour councillors who are nervous that they won't hang on to their seats next year."

Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Kirsty Williams criticised a "loophole" allowing councillors to take the money and stand for office again.

"There is no provision to stop somebody standing again and taking the money," she said.