'Around Kent' - another waste of council taxpayers' money and a threat to local democracy too

4.04.31pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 7th Apr 2009

Kent County Council's Conservative administration should not be spending taxpayers' money on activities already adequately provided by the private sector. Guy Voizey, parliamentary spokesman for Canterbury and Whitstable Liberal Democrats, says the latest edition of KCC's own 'Around Kent' magazine (Spring/Summer 09 "Enjoy Kent this summer" - win a trip to Brussels) is a dreadful waste of council taxpayers' money which also poses a threat to local democracy.

"The 'Around Kent' magazine is another example of the council spending taxpayers' money unnecessarily", said Mr Voizey. "A few weeks ago, when the council tax bills were sent out, Kent County Council had an opportunity to give us information about its activities and the latest increase in council tax. There's no reason to print and distribute a magazine with much of the same information only a few weeks later."

"But there's a more serious aspect to this decision. KCC has now spent millions of taxpayers' money funding 'Around Kent' and its own TV station. These projects are in direct competition to private sector local media organisations, some of which have been forced to make redundancies here in Kent. The local media organisations do a valuable job holding local politicians to account in local papers and on websites. In contrast, council-produced magazines like 'Around Kent' don't scrutinise council decisions, such as the ones which resulted in £50 million of our money being frozen in Iceland. They only give one side of the story, the one those who took the decisions want the public to hear. It is clear any weakening of the independent local media could have a devastating impact on the quality of our local democracy.

"This is not an isolated example. There are too many instances of KCC operating in competition to private sector organisations. For example, a number of Kent-based companies have criticised the way KCC's own arm's length companies have been poaching business in transport, temporary staff and advertising.

"Councils should use taxpayers' money to provide services which are not available from the private sector. KCC should concentrate on making our roads and pavements safer, on protecting the elderly and most vulnerable in our society and on ensuring our children get the best quality education available. They should not use our money to subsidise council-led projects which put local people out of work", said Mr Voizey.