Public service union UNISON has called for loyalty bonuses paid to senior Richmond Council staff to be spent on front-line services instead.

The retention and recruitment scheme, which was launched in 1989, enables senior officers to earn a 10 per cent bonus above their basic salary after just two years and 12.5 per cent after three years.

UNISON believe these sweeteners are now impossible to justify at a time when the council has recently axed Meadows Hall day centre for pensioners in Richmond, Twickenham Family Centre and Richmond Under-Fives Centre.

Just two weeks ago council leader David Williams warned the authority must "think the unthinkable" with budget cuts of £10 million likely to be necessary next year.

He predicted some council services may be completely axed and even education and social services won't escape unscathed.

UNISON claim retention payments are unnecessary because "there will always be a wide variety of suitably qualified applicants for senior officer vacancies".

Local branch chairman Roberta Grant said: "Our members feel that we have a responsibility to bring to public attention any possible mis-spending by the authority as part of our general duty to contribute towards raising standards in public services."

A Richmond Council spokesman said a review of the scheme was currently being undertaken.

Council committees will be given the chance to scrutinise a report based on that review in October or November.

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