Carl Sargeant AM on the warpath

Press Release.

Not fit to look after the Council Coffers.

Calls this week by Officers and Leaders of Flintshire County Council for an improved cash settlement have been met with disbelief from Assembly Member for Alyn & Deeside Carl Sargeant.

Flintshire County Council will receive £181.5 million in core funding from the Welsh Assembly Government in 2009-10 to support local services such as education, social services, refuse collection and recycling services. This is equivalent to £1,206 for every man, woman and child living in the area and represents a 2.7 per cent increase on last year’s settlement. In addition funding has also made available of £10.4 million to support capital projects in Flintshire. The Council will also receive specific grants to support a range of activities including funding for the foundation phase, refuse disposal recycling and free bus travel

Carl Sargeant AM said “These are challenging economic and financial times for the public sector, businesses and citizens alike. In a time of economic instability and where industry and the public are having to tighten their financial belts Flintshire County Councils Independent/Conservative/Liberal Council are considering spending £100,000 pounds on laptops for the members and this in addition to what is understood to be a £5000 levy for each member to spend in their wards is being considered.

I am astounded that in this economic climate the New Independent Council seeks to spend money on new laptops for members. After a week where this council invested and seeks to lose 3.5 million in the Icelandic Banks they are now seriously considering spending £100000 on IT development. Only this week I have had a pensioner come to see me seeking repairs to her toilet that was reported in July. Roads in Flintshire at gridlock or traffic speeding dangerously through villages. Where are their priorities? With power comes difficult decisions – I hope that the executive sees sense and kicks these computers into touch.

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I am indebted to Carl Sargeant AM for bringing this up. Dealing with Flintshire County Council is not a happy experience. They ignore or try to avoid FOIE's. They do not answer emails or return phonecalls.

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