Printing costs to come out of councillors’ pockets
KENILWORTH councillors have hit out at larger authorities “passing the buck” and landing them with costly printing fees as a result of ongoing public spending cuts.
Town councillors will no longer be sent paper copies of certain agendas and minutes but instead receive them by email, which they will have to print out themselves should they wish, in an effort to cut down on costs.
The move is part of ongoing cuts proposed by Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council to reduce public spending.
But members voiced concern during their last meeting with many feeling it should not be up to them to personally meet the shortfall. Cllr Pauline Edwards said that as district councillors can go and collect paper work free of charge, it was “quite unfair” that town members were expected to foot the bill.
Cllr Dave Shilton said that printing costs which were “not cheap” and warned if unpaid members had to start dipping into their own pockets, it would only deter people from coming on board.
George Illingworth, town mayor, said he had no problem in giving out free paper to members to print on, but that to provide ink cartridges would be a different and more complicated matter in terms of tax.
Ways around the issue will be looked into for the group’s next meeting.
*What do you think? Should town councillors have to dip into their own pockets to cover costs, or are you happy for the money to come out of the public purse amid the spending cuts?
Email hannah.smith@kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk or tweet us your opinions at twitter.com/Kenilworth_news
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Friday 24 May 2013
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