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Council spends MORE on spin and LESS on youth service
March 30, 2010 6:11 PM
Stephen Robinson and students from Boswells college
Essex County Council has cut £100,000 from the budget of our already overstretched youth service. At the same time, spending on spin doctors, PR and support for leading Conservative Councillors has risen to £6 million, according to figures uncovered by Liberal Democrat Stephen Robinson, who is running a number of local campaigns for young people.
Under the Conservatives, spending on PR and spin doctors has now reached £5 million - a jump of over one quarter compared to last year. This included an expensive TV advertising campaign. Additionally, the cost to taxpayers of the Conservative cabinet members, their deputies and support staff reached £1 million.
"The county council should fix the serious failings in its basic services before spending more on self-promotion," said Chelmsford Lib Dem campaigner Stephen Robinson.
Last year the Conservative-run county council was named as one of the eight worst councils in the country for child protection, alongside Haringey Council which was responsible for the Baby P scandal.
Fill potholes not your pockets
"The neglect of basic services such as child protection and road repairs must stop," said Stephen Robinson.
Lib Dem Stephen Robinson has established himself as a campaigner for young people. When a county councillor he consistently voted for more money to schools and the youth budget. He's been working with the Moulsham Youth Club campaign; running a petition for a youth cafe (following a young people's survey he carried out) and working with the campaign group for a replacement skatepark in Chelmsford.
Sign the petition for a new skatepark: www.ourcampaign.org.uk/skatepark
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