«Breaking News» Fat cat boss of disabled car charity Motability gets £2million bonus

Under fire: Mike Betts and wife Julie

A controversial company providing taxpayer-funded cars for the disabled is facing a new row over the alleged cover-up of a £2 million bonus for its boss.

The secret payout is said to have been promised to Mike Betts, the chief executive of Motability Operations, which runs a charitable scheme that supplies vehicles to wheelchair users and others in return for part of their benefits.

Mr Betts, who lives in a £5 million riverside apartment overlooking London's Tower Bridge, earns £1.7 million a year – 11 times more than Prime Minister Theresa May.

But in a dramatic new development, the Mail has been told Mr Betts, 56, is in line for an additional 'loyalty' bonanza of £2 million – more than doubling his already-bloated annual takings.

Insiders say it was agreed five years ago, but has not come to light until now. It is thought Mr Betts is entitled to the vast sum – which is not related to his pension – in the 'near future'.

Motability last night declined to say if Mr Betts had been awarded a £2million bonus, but denied concealing details of its executives' pay. 

The revelation comes after the Mail exposed a scandal at the heart of the Motability charity, which was set up in 1977 to help disabled people get around by leasing a car, scooter or powered wheelchair.

In February, this newspaper revealed how Motability, which gets all its money indirectly from the public purse, is hoarding £2.4 billion of public funds – enough to pay for seven new hospitals or 30 new schools.

The then work and pensions secretary, Esther McVey, ordered three inquiries as a result of the Mail's revelations, including one by the National Audit Office (NAO).

Last night former Labour minister Frank Field, chairman of the Commons work and pensions select committee which also investigated Motability, expressed anger over the new revelations.

'The idea that Mr Betts deserves a £2 million bonus as well as £1.7 million a year defies belief and raises further serious questions about how Motability is run,' he said. 

'If this information has been withheld from MPs, someone is for the high jump. I am referring this to the NAO.'

Mr Betts received a public mauling when he appeared before Mr Field's committee nine months ago. MPs branded his salary – which has increased by nearly 80 per cent in nine years – as 'grotesque'.

Mr Field lambasted him over the 'large, large, large amount of money going into your pocket', adding: 'It is an affront to the disabled – cars for the disabled is bread and butter stuff. It just needs intelligent book-keeping.'

Crucially, there was no mention of a £2 million bonus at the time.

It is believed that figure is the true value of extra cash set aside by Motability for Mr Betts in what it describes as a 'deferred bonus'. Insiders say that in reality it is a 'loyalty' payment to reward him for staying with the firm.

A 'deferred bonus' is referred to in Motability accounts – but not valued anywhere near as high as £2 million. 

The company says its £2.4 billion 'reserves' are needed to guard against business risks, such as changes in the value of the pound and car prices.

But MPs disputed claims that its boardroom pay was on a par with bosses of FTSE 250 companies, arguing its monopoly of government money for disabled drivers made it a risk-free enterprise.

In response to the Mail's investigation, Motability recently found a spare £500 million for disabled drivers.

A source close to Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said: 'It is not right for obscene salaries to be paid using money made on the back of disability benefits.'

The source said Miss Rudd was seeking an urgent meeting with Motability chairman Lord Sterling.

The scheme was set up to help disabled people get around, and supplies more than 600,000 vehicles.

Its customers' £58-a-week mobility benefits are paid directly to the company, in return for a new vehicle.

Motability gets £2 billion a year in disabled benefits and income from the second-hand car market when vehicles are sold after three years.  

It also receives £750 million-a-year tax relief which stops private competition. 

The firm is owned by Barclays, Lloyds, RBS and HSBC and borrows from them to buy new cars for its fleet.

A Motability spokesman said 'full details' of Mr Betts' pay had been given to Mr Field's committee, adding: 'Our reporting of all executive remuneration is fully in line with the Companies Act.'

The NAO's report into Motability is due to be published on Friday.  

Linkhienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/04/fat-cat-boss-of-disabled-car-charity-motability-gets-2million-bonus/
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Under fire: Mike Betts and wife Julie

A controversial company providing taxpayer-funded cars for the disabled is facing a new row over the alleged cover-up of a £2 million bonus for its boss.
The secret payout is said to have been promised to Mike Betts, the chief executive of Motability ...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





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