18.2.2008

MARTYN JONES MP FURIOUS AT COUNCIL EXPENDITURE

Martyn Jones MP today spoke of his ‘outrage’ at the fact that the Lib Dem / Tory / Independent Coalition running Wrexham County Council had spent large sums of public money on just one local hotel.

Speaking after he heard the news Mr Jones declared:

“This news is infuriating. Today Wrexham Borough Council has been shown to really let local people down. To spend such a staggering amount in just one institution is abysmal conduct.

It should be noted that this expenditure comes from a council who have insisted on a £2 administration charge for local people who are attempting to renew their disabled parking badges.

It should also be noted that the Lib Dem / Tory / Independent Coalition who lead this council are currently considering closing Community Centres across the Wrexham area including Gardden Community Centre which costs less than £5,000 per year to run.

Why on earth are these increases in charges and cuts in services necessary? Council Leader, Aled Roberts, is always blaming service cuts on a poor settlement from the Welsh Assembly Government. However it is clear that they have plenty of money to splash around.

Perhaps the most mystifying bit of this whole fiasco is that the council has plenty of facilities with which to train staff and hold meetings. They could meet in Council owned properties such as Redwither Tower or the Guildhall.

I’m all in favour of expenditure on local business but such a high amount of taxpayer’s money being pumped into one hotel is scandalous. Especially at a time when my constituents are being denied vital services.

I intend fully to make further inquiries and to launch a freedom of information request into any similar council spending that may have taken place.”