Council spending money it does not have (From Warrington Guardian)

Warrington Council spending money it does not have

2:39pm Thursday 19th April 2012 in Letters

AROUND five weeks ago I wrote to the Guardian regarding the laying of new kerb stones and resurfacing the path in Wilderspool Park.

I commented that considering the financial cutbacks, what a waste of money these projects were.

Two weeks later Clr Maureen McLaughlin replied to my complaint, stating that the work was done free of charge by contractors who the council use under a ‘106 agreement’.

Two weeks ago I asked the councillor via the Guardian if she could explain how this agreement works.

This is the way I read it; when a contractor quotes for work from the council he knows he will be expected to do a certain amount of unforeseen work free of charge, which could run into thousands of pounds.

This being the case he will have to include a (large) ball park figure in his tender to cover himself for the ‘free’ work.

The tender would have to be vastly inflated to make sure the contractor did not lose out financially.

I also ask why the council is putting solar panels on council houses? I would like solar panels, but I was quoted £11,000 for a semi-detached house I simply could not afford it.

She will probably tell me it is cost effective. Perhaps it is over something like eight years but it is an outlay of tens of thousands of pounds now which the council does not have.

It is the same old story with the council, it’s great spending other people’s money.

I wait for the councillor’s reply but I will not hold my breath.

D BROWN Warrington