Julian Johnson - The Crusader's Councillor for April

Who are our local councillors? I thought it would be interesting to have a closer look at one of two of them. Did you know that Councillors got paid? Not just expenses, a salary. Neither did I. Apparently the current Labour government introduced pay for councillors a few years ago. Still, sitting though all those meetings must be torture, I’m sure they deserve some compensation. But how much? Difficult to find out.

The most recent document I can find on the subject on Salisbury District Council’s website is dated October 2004 – Members’ Allowance Scheme for 2003/2004. In that year the highest allowance went to Mr. K.C. Wren, Upper Bourne, Idminston and Winterbourne - £18,519.42. p.a. I can’t quite make out if that is an allowance, i.e. expenses with an unlisted salary added, or the entire annual payment. Still I am sure it was worth every penny.

However, we shouldn’t quibble about the existence of salaries. What I want is a little more rigour for our money. Let’s forget the old adage about not biting the hand that feeds you, I would like a few bites on behalf of us electors.

Which brings us to our Councillor for April, Mr Julian Johnson, County Councillor for Downton and Ebble Valley Electoral Division. Julian brought himself to the Crusader’s attention by speaking at the recent extraordinary meeting of Salisbury Council on the planning controversy. He thought it would be useful for the audience to know how the consultation and planning process had been conducted and how the powers that be had arrived at their decisions. As an ex-Chairman of Wiltshire County Council and former Chairman of the Transport, Highways Planning Committee and the Council Planning and Transport group he should know. He carefully explained that they had met and consulted and eventually come up with the figure of around 9,000 new homes for the Salisbury District. (The Crusader plans to try to find out how they came up with this number.) Then about a year ago it wad decided by central government that the number of new homes to be built in Salisbury should be increased to 12,400. How? Why? Julian only said that he ‘thought it unlikely that central government would change its mind’.

Come on Julian! You were speaking the very day that the government did a U-turn on the 10p tax issue. You are a Conservative councillor so you must remember John Major. Governments do change their policies. Get a grip and pay attention.

Anyway, some background information. Julian lives at Newcourt Lodge, Nunton. Sounds lovely doesn’t it? Well, actually we all have a chance to enjoy Newcourt Lodge because Gillian Johnson runs it as a B&B. http://www.circlehotels.co.uk/accomodationinfo.asp?id=280 It is promoted as an 'Attractive house with many orignial features, set in mature garden with views over the Wiltshire countryside.' As indeed there are - the image on the left shows the fields around Newcourt Lodge.


Curiously enough my perusal of the Black Book didn’t indicate that Nunton was going to have a huge development of 2,500 houses just next to it, but perhaps I have missed something. However, if they were going to build there I am sure that Julian would say a bit more than 'I don't think that central government is likely to change its mind.'

Julian has three council jobs, he sits on the County Council, is a member of the South West Local Government Association and is a member of the South West Regional Assembly, but I am sure that he can’t possibly draw three separate salaries for his duties. He also sits on the National Park Authority for the New Forest (probably just for fun with no payment) and has had a few trips to Brussels to liaise there on our behalf.

In his interests he lists military and colonial history, wildlife and the environment. He also enjoys travelling to remote places. Julian, just a hint, if you live in South Wiltshire, Brussels is not a remote destination.