TOP rank officers on Burnley Council have been invited to give any extra money they receive over the Millennium weekend to charity.

Coun Harry Brooks told the full council that that would remove any taint or suspicion of senior managers taking part in bringing recommendations for money they might benefit from.

He was not talking about the 'foot soldiers' who might have to work or be on stand-by during that period, but only top officers who had been involved in the payment recommendations.

An officer who was receiving £50,000 salary taking £200 stand-by to stay at home on a particular night might not go down well with the public, he said.

Council leader Stuart Caddy said it was not right nor proper for the council to take decisions on individuals' personal finances.

If Coun Brooks wanted to send them a personal letter inviting them to give any money to charity, he was free to do so.

Personnel committee vice chairman Coun Eric Selby said he was against Coun Brooks's suggestion if for nothing else it contained a hint of disrespect to senior members of staff.

Anyone on stand-by between 8pm on December 31 and 8pm on January 1 will have the choice of either a single flat rate stand-by payment of £200 which will also cover the first two hours of work if called in (any work beyond two hours at twice the hourly rate) or no stand-by payment but if called in to work to be paid at four times the hourly rate.

Other payments will be made at other times over the break and rules on senior staff claiming overtime payment will be waived.

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