COUNCIL IN A SPIN OVER PRIORITIES (02/12/05)

While our wheels are spinning on icy roads, the County Council is employing more spin-doctors to counter the criticism.

The Administration at Somerset County Council agreed to more jobs at County Hall this week. This time it is two more posts in the Communications and Marketing Team, which is dedicated to portraying the Council in a favourable light.

The move will cost £60,000 per year - money that many would argue should have been better spent making our roads safer.

“The County Council need to sort their priorities out,” commented Christopher Wolverson, Leader of the Conservative Group. “We can all see why, in the face of budget cuts to winter gritting and hedge-cutting, they might want to employ more people to present the Council in a more positive light, but a more sensible solution would be to not cut these budgets in the first place, and save the cash that is now being spent on the spin-doctors”.

It is well known that the County Council are looking for budget cuts, but faced with all the warnings of a forthcoming harsh winter many have questioned their sense in cutting the winter service budget. It is early December, yet the weather has already shown how disruptive it can be. Schools were closed as school bus drivers understandably refused to risk a journey on treacherous roads. People were unable to get to work. Sadly accidents affected some of those that did venture out.

David Heathcoat-Amory, MP for Wells, agreed; “With Council Tax bills set to go up again next year, it is typical that the County Council takes on more Communications and Marketing staff instead of concentrating on front line services”.

“We Conservatives feel it is our duty to keep the pressure on those in charge at County Hall to make sure they are spending your money wisely, but the cuts to the winter service are misguided and, like the unpopular cuts to the grass and hedge-cutting budget, are grossly out of touch with what people tell us they want,” said Christopher Wolverson. “We hope that the County Council reconsiders, puts our safety first, and restores the winter service to its previous levels. This is surely a higher priority than more spin-doctors.”

Ends

Notes for Editors:

1 On 30 November the Executive Board at Somerset County Council agreed to use £60,000 from general reserves to fund two additional posts in the Communications and Marketing Team (Item 10, Executive Board, Somerset County Council, 30 November 2005)

2 The cuts mentioned in this release were confirmed in a report setting out changes to Highways Maintenance Policy (Item 7, Executive Board, Somerset County Council, 7 September 2005)

3 For further information or comment, please contact Christopher Wolverson, Leader of the Conservative Group at Somerset County Council, on 01823 356784, or 01823 430628