SCANDALOUS SCARE-MONGERING BY TORIES

4.50.26pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 22nd May 2008

The Conservative group leader at County Hall, Ken Maddock, is wasting council officers valuable time by scare-mongering tactics, designed to get his group re-elected at next year's County Council elections.

He is joining in the attack by the Bridgwater MP on the SouthWest One Project that Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Avon & Somerset Police have signed up to, in order to save council tax payers' money. These partners saw the good sense in taking advantage of the wider investment in modern technology and the world-wide expertise that IBM could offer, to deliver their services not only better but for less money. And money now going into the new company was already allocated for service delivery.

At the Full Council meeting last week, the Conservative leader repeated a well-worn criticism about the project being 'shrouded in mystery'. In fact, there have been no less than ten Executive and Scrutiny Committees validating the contract, only one of which he bothered to attend. It is laughable that he now says that 'using his business expertise', he will 'make sure that taxpayers are not being short-changed'. Where was he over the past twelve months, when he was drawing an allowance for doing just that in his role as Leader of the main opposition group? Why did he never ask any questions of the relevant officers or councillors, everyone of whom offered him the opportunity to do so?

The venture partnership, which is said to be one of the most ambitious of its kind in all of Europe, has recently been described as 'the most scrutinised project' that our auditors have ever seen. The Liberal Democrat group are proud to lead one of only thirteen councils across the country which are deemed to be 'excellent' and 'improving strongly' (the highest accolade from government inspectors).

Sam Crabb (Portfolio Holder for Strategic Resources and Finance) said today:

"This isn't the sort of praise a council gets for 'standing still', or letting the opposition's attacks damage the good reputation and morale of its staff."

Jill Shortland, leader of the council, further added:

"If Ken Maddock has evidence that concerns him, he has already missed many opportunities but once again I say to him and this MP, put up or shut up!"

ENDS.