Leicestershire Liberal Democrats condemn plan to recruit Council Communications Manager at £65,000

Responding to an advert for a new Head of Communications at Leicestershire County Council, the Liberal Democrat Group has expressed astonishment.

Simon Galton, Group Leader said:

"I can hardly believe that the Council is making such a decision at a time when 600 posts are under threat, and this figure could rise once the Comprehensive Spending Review is released in October.

At a time when the Council is cutting services such as community centres, school transport and personal care for the elderly, it beggars belief that they are planning to fill this already vacant post. Recruiting a new Head of Communications on a salary of £65-70,000 is wrong plain and simple. We have enough staff working in communications / Public Relations and the duties could easily be undertaken by other competent staff already employed. The Council spends £2.15 million a year on communications including six editions of "Leicestershire Matters" and the Liberal Democrats believe this activity should be significantly curtailed to help protect frontline services to the public."

Lib Dem County Councillor Michael Wyatt said:

"I am absolutely outraged to hear that Tory Bosses at County Hall are now advertising for a new head of communications on a large salary when only weeks ago they put the final nail in the coffin of our elderly persons care homes like Tillson House in Greenhill.

In one hand they are giving out P45's and in the other they recruiting a senior new post to promote the Conservative Administration at County Hall. The Liberal Democrat Group proposed cutting the £2.15m that the Council spends on Communications in the last budget but the Tories voted against it and are now apparently happy to recruit a new manager in these hard times - it is simply barmy."