City Hall under fire over info stalls and ‘roadshows’ - opposition furious over Tory Party political PR stunt.
Published: 01 July 2011
by JOSH LOEB
OPPOSITION councillors are furious at City Hall’s plans to spend public money on what they claim is a party political PR stunt.
Westminster Labour members have written to the district auditor, Mike Haworth-Maden, to alert him to the scheme, which, according to one council officer, involves a series of market stalls and “roadshow events” aimed at combating the view that the Conservative-controlled council is making big cuts to services. In an email to staff two weeks ago, the officer described the stalls as a “communications initiative to counter the messages that people are hearing about council services being reduced or withdrawn”.
City Hall have since claimed the stalls are about informing residents of the range of council services on offer.
The authority is obliged to remain neutral on political debates, and council funds – the use of which is monitored by the district auditor – cannot be employed to further the aims of one party or another.
Writing to council chief executive Mike More, Westminster Labour leader councillor Paul Dimoldenberg said: “It seems to me that this is a political campaign and not something that council staff should be involved with or that council taxpayers should be paying for. For the record, your own figures show that 50 per cent of the cuts are to frontline services so it is clear that council services are being reduced and withdrawn.”
But Cllr Colin Barrow, leader of Westminster council, said: “We will shortly be providing seven market stalls in Westminster during July and August to promote the services and facilities available to our residents, including services provided by our partner organisations.
“At these stalls we will also be able to answer questions residents may have about any forthcoming changes to services. The stalls will demonstrate the huge range of services provided by the council and our partners.”
Last year in neighbouring Camden the ruling Labour group was criticised for decorating bus shelters with posters blaming spending cuts on the government.