COUNCIL PR MACHINE - 'OUTRAGEOUS CHEEK' AS LABOUR COUNCIL ASKS FOR EVEN MORE RESIDENTS' CASH

8.12.03

Liberal Democrats have condemned attempts by Haringey Council to boost its PR and spin budget yet again - despite the huge financial pressures on the Council this year. Lib Dems says that while residents face swingeing Council Tax increases, the Labour council's already bloated PR budget should not be increased.

In the borough's 'Pre Business Plan Review,' which sets out spending proposals for council departments for the next financial year, Haringey's PR team has been provisionally allocated an additional £45,000 of funding. The bid includes a whopping £15,000 for "new software for managing press inquiries" which "would also allow us to fax directly from PCs."

Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesperson Lynne Featherstone is calling the increases totally unjustified, following recent revelations that the Council has the second largest PR budget in the country, at well over £1 million.

Lynne Featherstone comments: "It beggars belief that with current financial pressures, Haringey would ask for even more cash for a bloated PR service. Local residents will be forced to pay more and more for media spin from the Council."

Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson, Cllr Jonathan Bloch adds: "With other budgets such as social services facing cuts, this is hardly appropriate. I want these increases stopped and proposals from the Council on how it can control its public relations bingeing."

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