Council office plan '£200k waste'

A former council leader has branded proposals to spend £200,000 on new council offices and computer equipment a "disgusting waste of money".

Councillor Aaron Shotton accused the coalition-led Flintshire Council of "arrogance beyond belief" at a time when budgets are under pressure.

The council said facilities for councillors in Mold were inadequate.

The chief executive said the council would need to "agree the most cost effective option".

Labour had controlled the council under Mr Shotton until the local government elections in May, when it was reduced to 22 seats, compared to 26 held by independents.

'Obscene'

Mr Shotton said he had seen proposals by the independent-led alliance to spend £100,000 on laptops and more than £100,000 on partitions to create "extra room for themselves", as well as furniture for the new rooms.

The council's Labour group leader, said: "I am astounded that at a time when the council should be tightening its belt and finding efficiency savings, the Tory, Liberal and independent group leaders are planning to spend nearly a quarter of a million pounds on themselves.

"It is obscene."

Labour councillor Bernie Attridge said £30,000 had already been spent on a new room for the independent group with "very plush furniture" and 12 computers.

He added: "At such a difficult economic period they should be spending the money on services for the people of Flintshire, not themselves."

The council currently has more than £3.5m frozen in an Icelandic Bank.

Flintshire council chief executive, Colin Everett said the council was considering options to improve the office accommodation and support facilities provided to members.

"Elected members should be provided with the facilities, working environment and support to 'do the job'.

"The elected member accommodation in County Hall, Mold was inadequate in size and layout.

"Options for improved member accommodation are being worked up; the council will need to agree the most cost-effective option to balance meeting the needs of members with making prudent use of council funds."

Councillor Patrick Heesom, leader of the largest group on the council, the independents, accused Mr Shotton of "bringing the council into disrepute".

He said Mr Shotton had been partly responsible for the issues he was now complaining about, when he was council leader earlier this year.

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