Hounslow Council spends £13k on 'pre-election advertising blitz' (From Hounslow And Brentford Times)

Hounslow Council spends £13k on 'pre-election advertising blitz'

6:50am Thursday 11th March 2010

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The borough’s Conservative group has been accused of misusing £13,200 of taxpayers’ money in a “pre-election advertising blitz”.

Tory-led Hounslow Council erected 50 banners and signs - each costing £264 - highlighting the administration’s main achievements, including freezing council tax and its new recycling services.

But Labour expressed concern that the adverts looked like they were part of the Conservative central office’s election campaign.

Steve Curran, chairman of the Brentford and Isleworth constituency Labour Party, said: “The Tory council’s cynical use of taxpayers’ money in a pre-election advertising blitz across the borough is a disgrace.

“They have abused their position by wasting council taxpapers’ money claiming they have made savings through their so called ‘improvement programme’ yet wasting it on expensive advertising.

“What has been done is to cut services to the most vulnerable, made hundreds of staff redundant. Also, all the while spending millions of pounds on consultancy fees.

“The banners look like they are straight from Tory central office. The Tory administration has only delivered hardship to our communities followed by cuts in services.”

Tory Councillor Peter Thompson, leader of Hounslow Council, denied the authority had cut services for vulnerable residents and defended its investment in the banners.

He said: “They are based on what people told us they wanted, so we think it’s important that people know that we are delivering on what they want.

“We have always - in common with all councils of all political views - advertised council services to promote them to residents. The latest publicity promotes a range of services - recycling, libraries and leisure centres – that rely on high public awareness.

“By wrapping them together into one campaign we have been able to spread the cost of this publicity to get more exposure than would have been possible if they had been done in isolation.”

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