"County Leader Wasted £119,000 on Failed Unitary Bid", claim Herts Lib Dems.
October 22, 2020 9:41 AM
Originally published by Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats
Originally published by Hertfordshire Liberal Democrats
Conservative run Herts County Council has wasted £119,000 of council tax payers' money on investigating a failed bid to turn it into a mega
super council abolishing the 10 district and borough councils.
Following questions raised by Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, it was revealed that Hertfordshire County Council spent £119,000 in the last year to explore local government reform in the county.
super council abolishing the 10 district and borough councils.
Following questions raised by Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, it was revealed that Hertfordshire County Council spent £119,000 in the last year to explore local government reform in the county.
This was £107,000 on consultancy fees with Price Waterhouse Cooper and £12,000 on officers' salaries as staff were diverted to work on the project as requested by the Conservative Leader of the Council, David Williams.
Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst said, " This is a sickening waste of money especially now that the idea of local government reform in Herts has been taken off the agenda for the foreseeable future. The reports and spend were kept secret from opposition councillors in an underhand way.
"What is very concerning is that the majority of this money was spent and work was commissioned during the on-going pandemic. An Assistant Director from Adult Social Care was moved to work on this and that is a disgrace. This just goes to show that the Conservatives cannot get priorities right and have wasted council taxpayers' money that could have been spent on supporting local business."
Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst said, " This is a sickening waste of money especially now that the idea of local government reform in Herts has been taken off the agenda for the foreseeable future. The reports and spend were kept secret from opposition councillors in an underhand way.
"What is very concerning is that the majority of this money was spent and work was commissioned during the on-going pandemic. An Assistant Director from Adult Social Care was moved to work on this and that is a disgrace. This just goes to show that the Conservatives cannot get priorities right and have wasted council taxpayers' money that could have been spent on supporting local business."