County Council Should Concentrate on Basic Services - Not Spin

10.57.00pm GMT Tue 9th Feb 2010

Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Lib Dem leader at Essex County Council

Less money for the County Council's corporate image, publicity and spin; more on addressing the serious failings in basic services, such as safeguarding vulnerable children. That was the Liberal Democrat message at the Budget Meeting of Essex County Council today [9 February].

Speaking about the Conservative Administration's Budget, Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes (Chelmsford North, Liberal Democrat Group Leader) said:

"In 2008, Independent inspectors found procedures for safeguarding vulnerable children were some of the worst in the country. At the end of 2009 they were so concerned at the lack of progress, they downgraded their assessment of the performance of the whole County Council. At the same time, the County Council, in one year, increased its publicity budget by a massive 25%.

"The Conservative Administration had become obsessed with image and forgotten its main purpose is to provide services and serve the County's people, in particular the vulnerable. The damning report on Children's Services and the further downgrading of the Council's performance should be a sobering wake-up call to those running the Council.

"The neglect of basic services must stop. The new Leader of the Council must totally focus on meeting the serious challenges facing the Council. He should work with all County Councillors in a spirit of greater openness in this vital task".