CONSERVATIVE CALLS FOR CULL OF COUNCIL SPIN DOCTORS!
Bristol Conservatives have called for a drastic cut in the amount spent each year by the City Council on publicity and public relationsmaterial.
The move follows the revelation by the pressure group the “TaxPayers' Alliance” (TPA) that, last year, townhalls across the country spent an incredible £430 million on publicity.
Whilst the average Council spends £965,986, Bristol City Council spends around £4,000,000 per year on corporate communications, making it the 16th highest spender - although it its only the 42nd largest authority.
Although the Council is obliged by law to produce certain publications such as job adverts and planning application notices, it also expends £250k on its own “Our City” community news magazine which is distributed to households citywide.
Westbury on Trym Conservative Councillor Ashley Fox has called for the Labour-run Authority to reign back spending on publicity gimmicks and redirect any savings made to essential services.
Cllr Fox said: “I find it astonishing that at a time when Councils are struggling to provide basic frontline services, Bristol can still find such sums for self-promotion and to pay for a legion of corporate spin-doctors.
“I often receive complaints from people that the colourful Council news magazine is little more than propaganda literature used to tell us how well the Labour-run Authority is spending our money. It is our very own version of PRAVDA !
“In 2006/7 a Conservative Budget amendment which proposed a modest £260,000 cut in the Corporate communications budget was defeated by Labour and Lib Dem councillors.
“Judging by the latest figure given for Bristol of almost £4 million per annum, I suggest that the time has come for more drastic cuts in the Council's bloated publicity budget.”
