With the entire country facing cutbacks by the coalition government you would think that our Conservative-run council would follow suit and make economies at home in line with David Cameron’s policies. Not so, in fact after six months as a Labour councillor with Hyndburn I am appalled by the wasteful spending I see each week by our Conservative administration. During my tenure I have seen innumerable small amounts frittered away on flash-in-the-pan ideas which barely have a short-term effect on the borough and usually emanate the unpleasant odour of electioneering.

The cost of Baroness Warsi’s visit to Baxenden is not yet known but it is something of a coincidence just ahead of the by-election. Add to that ‘The Beacon’ newspaper (delivered to Baxenden first) which cost the borough another £2,500 just to crow about how wonderful the council is, although reading it would imply that the Labour and Independent councillors play absolutely no part in proceedings. The Market Hall costs us thousands each week in promotional entertainments, despite the objections from the traders themselves who just want to be left alone to run their own businesses. Following the £8,000+ on Aldo Zilli, they blew £2,500 on a celebrity cheesemaker to promote his own business, £1,100 on a crochet advisor and a further £3,700 on an animated film about Accrington.

The standard retort always seems to loop back to the faults of the previous government which is lazy politics from any party, something which is especially hollow when all we hear about is the glorious ten-year reign of Peter Britcliffe (the 2002-2003 Labour council always being forgotten about, for some reason). However, local politics is far-removed from national politics and to hear the Leader of the Council speak you would think that Gordon Brown had a gun to his head even now when signing off cheques like the one for £1,666 for a one-off performer in Rhyddings Park. I therefore find it odd that there isn’t enough money in the borough for my requests for help with Rishton bus shelters, the Esplanade rosebed or our Scout hut heating system.

However, a truly self-serving excess which would definitely be abolished under a Labour administration is the amount spent on buffet lunches for the councillors. Over the past five years the council has spent at least £15,000 on refreshments, something which few private sector companies do for their employees and a luxury which simply cannot be justified when the electorate is being told to tighten their belts.

Many meetings are scheduled at lunch and tea time seemingly arbitrarily so that a buffet can be served. Even full council meetings are regularly set during the afternoon by Peter Britcliffe, who knows full well that it is awkward for councillors such as myself with work commitments and not only affects debates on the most important issues in the borough but costs thousands in lost man hours.

It really is time for a change in Hyndburn, with someone in control who has an idea of what life is like in the real world.

Cllr Ken Moss
Rishton Ward