Sir, – At the election debate on Sunday, April 19, organised by the Northallerton Churches Together, the subject of low pay and zero hour contracts came up.
John Blackie, Leader of Richmondshire District Council, accused Hambleton District Council of having 400 employees on zero hour contracts, something I roundly disputed at the time.
The facts are that Hambleton has 184 casual employees, all working in one of their four leisure centres in Bedale, Northallerton, Stokesley or Thirsk, mostly as leisure attendants (usually students) or coaches. Moreover, Conservative-controlled Hambleton is the only North Yorkshire council to pay the living wage rather than the minimum wage.
Alderman Mrs SUSAN LATTER
Scruton, Northallerton.
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