1 week Ago By [email protected] (Carmelo Garcia)
A “cash strapped” Gloucestershire council has come under fire for spending £250,000 a year on PR roles “for self-promotion and virtue signalling”. Liberal Democrat-controlled leaders have defended their decision to create four new communications jobs. The have blasted the decision which comes “after the Lib Dems have been pleading poverty, slashing services and clobbering residents with tax, parking and green bin charge hikes”.
But the say the new roles are aimed at improving communication and making sure residents are aware of the vital services and support available to them during the cost of living crisis. Tory group leader Tom Stowe (C, Campden and Vale) described the decision as a “huge waste of money”. “The financial difficulties that the council now finds itself in after five years of Lib Dem mismanagement are well documented,” he said.
“They’ve been pleading poverty, slashing services and clobbering residents with continuous increases to car parking, green bin charges and council tax as they desperately plug their budget blackholes and fend off the threat of bankruptcy. This decision to waste huge amounts of cash on a “communications” team is a real slap in the face for residents of the Cotswolds. “Many will find it astounding, if not unsurprising, that the Liberal Democrats are prioritising self-promotion, PR and virtue signalling over delivering quality, efficient services to our community.
” Deputy group leader David Fowles (C, Coln Valley) said the District Council is a small rural authority which is responsible for providing a relatively small number of services such as planning to residents. He said the cretion of these "non-jobs" was "totally unacceptable". "The Liberal Democrat’s record speaks for itself – after five years in control we now have waste piling up in the streets, fly tipping out of control and massive increases in management costs whilst services are being slashed," he said.
"Council taxpayers work hard for their money and to see this money being diverted from front line services and wasted on non jobs and self-promotion is totally unacceptable." Council leader Joe Harris (LD, St Michael’s) said the Tories were trying to misrepresent their efforts to support residents. He said the new roles are to better inform residents about the vital services and support.
available during the cost of living. "It's disappointing to see Conservatives misrepresent our efforts to support residents during tough times," he said. “These new roles are about clear, effective communication—ensuring residents know about vital services such as cost-of-living support.
“We're also aiming to improving communication around important issues like planning and development which is something the Conservatives have criticised the council for. While the Conservatives focus on scoring political points, we’re focused on keeping our communities informed and engaged. “Investment in communication is about delivering transparency, not ‘self-promotion,’ and it’s what our residents expect and deserve.
".
