"Have they gone completely mad?!" ask Lib Dems

3.28.50pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 12th Apr 2007

The Recommendation that Lib Dems say is a total waste of tax payers’ money

The Liberal Democrats have reacted with disbelief at Surrey Heath Council's Conservative Executive's decision to spend £25,000 with a production company to produce a DVD.

"It seems Surrey Heath Conservatives have gone completely barking mad," said Lib Dem Council Group Leader, David Whitcroft. "At a time when the Council is supposed to be following a cash limited budget we now have Surrey Heath Conservatives completely wasting Council Tax payers on a DVD which will bring no benefits to residents at all"

The DVD, to be entitled 'Managing Change - Surrey Heath's Journey', will be about the introduction of the Council's new Contact Centre and will be used to promote the Council's expertise to other local authorities. The DVD will be produced by Production Company Virtual 360 who discuss Branding and interviews with Officers and members as part of their proposals. Members include Council Leader Moira Gibson and Labour Group Melanie Longden who is not standing for re-election at the forthcoming May Council election

"Instead of blowing £25,000 on a self indulgent waste of money," added Councillor Whitcroft, "Surrey Heath Tories should be investing the cash in improving services in the Borough. This is so typical of the wasteful approach that this Council adopts - it's no wonder the Audit Commission found it to be the worst Council in Surrey!"

Councillor Whitcroft also complained about a meeting held at the Council offices in late March which involved Council Officers, Virtual 360 and Cllrs Gibson and Longden.

"It's completely unacceptable that two Group leaders are invited to a meeting of this sort whilst others are not even informed that the meeting is taking place," he said. "Obviously the Conservative and Labour Parties have organised a cosy arrangement to waste Council Tax payers' money. Liberal Democrats are totally against this expenditure and if it is in our power after the May Election we will put a total stop to this nonsense"

During the discussion of the matter at the Council it emerged that both Conservative and Labour Group leaders had been directly involved in selecting the production company. It was also claimed by the Conservatives that there had been great interest from other Councils (including from Hart who had paid SH £25k for assistance) in SH's establishment of is contact centre.

David Whitcroft commented, "If so many other Councils are rushing to Surrey Heath to take advantage of our experience, why on earth are we wasting £25,000 of tax payers money to produce a promotional DVD we clearly do not need? I suspect this film is really to do with massaging the egos of certain people at the Council."