Conservative politicians criticised money being spent on "vanity projects" in the city at a meeting
Coventry "needs a version of Elon Musk", a councillor has claimed. Conservative councillor Marcus Lapsa made the remarks after slamming "waste" at a council budget meeting on Tuesday, 25 February.
Members of the ruling Labour group claimed the council is financially responsible and spends most on services for the vulnerable. But those in the opposition slammed council "vanity projects" and called for a range of savings.
In a speech supporting the Conservative group's alternative budget, Cllr Lapsa told the chamber: "Trump and Elon Musk is rooting out waste with DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] in America. What we need is a Coventry version of Elon Musk...."
Cllr Lapsa had earlier highlighted a huge decline in the value of council-owned Coombe Abbey Hotel and estate. He said this was revealed in a council audit report last week.
He also pointed to a reported £7.5 million "bailout" loan to council-owned waste company Tom White Waste, claiming it is "all wasted." Group Deputy Leader, Cllr Peter Male also took aim at how the council owned companies are faring and other projects such as turning IKEA into a cultural hub.
"The focus must be on frontline service delivery, not vanity projects," he said.
But Labour councillors hit back and defended the group's financial management. Councillor Dave Toulson told the chamber: "Listening to the members opposite it's very clear they'd like their own version of Elon Musk's DOGE.
"But I have to say on the basis of their amendment it's more dodgy than DOGE." Cllr Richard Brown told the chamber the council invests in "sound business case investments" that reflect its policy aims.
He said most of the council's budget for public services - 83p out of each £1 paid in council tax - "must be spent" on social care and housing. "It only leaves a meagre 17 pence to help fund the other services that we offer," he added.
