Wolverhampton Council has been accused of wasting up to 拢1m on publicity for its proposed arm鈥檚-length management organisation
The accusation, which is rejected by the council, was made by local MP Ken Purchase at a Defend Council Housing conference on Friday last week.
鈥淚 understand, although somehow or other it鈥檚 not on the public record, that the cost of that publicity was around 拢1m,鈥� Purchase said.
He told delegates the money had gone on glossy brochures, press adverts, door-to-door visits for which workers were paid 拢10 an hour, independent tenant advisers, and the use of Electoral Reform Services 鈥� the services arm of the Electoral Reform Society 鈥� to supervise the ballot, which closes on 8 November.
鈥淩eally, it shouldn鈥檛 cost more than 拢50,000,鈥� Purchase said.
But deputy leader of Wolverhampton council Peter Bilson said: 鈥淗is figure must be total set-up costs for establishing an ALMO. Our costs are similar to those of same-size authorities.鈥�
Bilson said the council had achieved a 70% rate of awareness among tenants of its plans for an ALMO.
Wolverhampton鈥檚 ALMO is in round four of the ODPM鈥檚 programme and 拢42m has been earmarked for its first two years of operation.
It hopes to use 拢288m to bring its 27,000 homes up to the decent homes standard.
Source
Housing Today
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