Row over Xmas perks for councillors in Nuneaton and Bedworth

[dutchman]

A row has broken out about Christmas perks being offered to councillors in Nuneaton and Bedworth.



Green Party representative Keith Kondakor says he is amazed to discover that cut-price festive greeting cards and free panto tickets, with complimentary refreshments, are available to all members.

He said: "I have long campaigned against excessive expenses at the council and these latest perks are systematic of the arrogance of the controlling Labour group, especially as this authority is supposed to be conducting a thorough cost-saving exercise."

Coun Kondakor said that councillors are able to order 2,000 personalised Christmas cards for just over £8 which works out at less than 5p each and includes the design and the printing.

The Weddington ward representative added: "I know it may only be a minor thing but it just seems to be a symptom of the system, which I only found out about by accident.

"I also discovered that all councillors are offered two free tickets, valued at £14 each, for the pantomime at the Civic Hall along with drinks and nibbles.

"I certainly will not be using the council staff's time to print my Christmas cards and if I go to any panto, I will gladly pay for my own tickets."

The issue has also been taken up by members of the Tory opposition.

Deputy group leader Coun Kris Wilson said: "At a time when the common perception is that every politician is on the gravy train, to bring it to a local level like this is not only unacceptable and wrong, it tars all of us who try and serve our communities with the same brush."

In response, Coun Julie Jackson, deputy leader of the controlling Labour group, said: "The printing of the Christmas cards is paid for by each individual councillor so there is no cost to the tax payer.

"As well as being an opportunity for councillors to wish the people in their ward a merry Christmas, the cards also contain details of individual councillor surgeries so that residents know when and where they can talk to their elected members about any problems they may have.

"Once we have paid for the cards to be printed we then go out and deliver each of them by hand ourselves.

"As councillors, we have a duty to represent the people of our ward and inform them of how they can contact us, and for those councillors that choose to do so, paying for personalised Christmas cards is an effective way of doing this."