Had a chuckle over Lib Dems (From Falmouth Packet)

Had a chuckle over Lib Dems

11:09am Wednesday 8th July 2009

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I HAD to chuckle when I spotted a statement from Cornwall Council’s Liberal Democrat Group this week. No sooner have they lost control of the authority they administered at great cost to you and me, they now call for a freeze on councillors’ allowances for the four year term of the new council.

In all the years the Lib-Dems controlled the county council they were being pressured not to waste money.

Money spent on such ludicrous items as bottled water, a totally unnecessary council newspaper, huge sums on their own expenses and allowances, and many other costs which if shelved could have saved them millions.

At one stage the poor old council taxpayer was about to pay for a mini-gymnasium and showers in the bowels of County Hall until your old mate skipper stepped in.

Now we have a change of leadership and management at County Hall we do expect great changes and within days of the Conservatives taking over they at least announced there would be a very close examination of the accounts and a tightening of belts.

For the Lib-Dems to call for a freeze on councillors allowances may be commendable, but coming from a group who appeared to have a never ending supply of cash and who paid out of what seemed like a bottomless pit, it sounds more like sour grapes.

On the other hand, the Tories have expanded the number of members in cabinet by ten and looking to set up a few more committees. All will be paid above the basic allowance for a councillor and chairmen or women get even more – that in my opinion is not the way to go about saving money.

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