Taxpayers in a Black Country borough are footing a near £1 million bill for council spin doctors each year, figures obtained by the Express & Star reveal.
Dudley Council spent £945,000 on public relations in the last financial year – employing 18 full-time Press officers who get an average of more than £32,000 a year. The total staff wage bill, including six part-time staff, was £680,000 while running costs spiralled to £265,000. Figures were released after a Freedom of Information Act 2000 request.
The outlay was attacked as “incredible” but finance chief Anne Millward said taxpayers got value for money.
The communications budget funds campaigns such as a six-month drive to encourage people to pay council tax and housing rent by direct debit, launched in July. A series of ads, posters and leaflets featuring the character Direct Dave were produced and circulated at taxpayers’ expense.
Past initiatives championed by the marketing and communications team include the Don’t Dirty Dudley campaign warning people who drop litter or fail to clear up after their dog they could face a £50 fine.
Councillor David Sparks, leader of the opposition Labour group, said: “The figure of nearly a million pounds is incredible given Dudley Council’s consistent inability to communicate with the people of the borough – on library closures, school closures and anything else that requires real public participation.
“I’m amazed that they spend so much. It seems that this lot are all spin and no substance. Communication is important to councils but the failure to communicate and spend a whole lot of money doing so seems to suggest the Dudley taxpayer is not getting value for money.”
Councillor Millward, cabinet member for finance, said: “I honestly believe we get fantastic value for money with our marketing and communications team. I don’t think 24 people is excessive to look after the needs of an authority which is one of the largest metropolitan boroughs in the country.”
17 Comments
Jobs for the boys and girls!! All aboard the Gravy Train, next stop, salary increase.
Report abuse
the gravy train rolls on
Report abuse
Don’t sack em that would be another million pounds golden handshake!
Report abuse
No money for libraries or leisure centres, but they can find a £1 Million for a PR dept? And the Tories say they are cutting waste???
Report abuse
Nice to know that when we’re nearing a recession the local council are p1$$1ng away a million quid on PR acknowledged by many in the PR and Marketing industry not to work….long live the Tories……NOT!
Report abuse
That’s what Labour governments do best - create unnecessary jobs. Is anyone really surprised given that a quarter of our workforce is employed in the pulic sector? But when the Tories get back in and cut back on all the luxuries, all you folk will be on here whinging about rising unemployment.
Report abuse
no surprise really.
Cut the PR and give us the truth and reduce our tax.
Report abuse
24 people???? A large company only needs 5 or 6.
I would cut the lot.
Report abuse
Incredible..even the News desks of National newspapers work with less…that is a disgrace…and no they don’t need that many, 5 at the most and thats plenty….
Report abuse
6 ding bong dudley is conservative
Report abuse
Will they be able to put a positive spin on the Pride of Dudley?
Report abuse
i wonder if the press officer will come on hear to defend himself and his department
Report abuse
Discovery of PR costs generates bad PR. Oh, the irony!
Report abuse
What an absolute joke. It seems that politicians of all kinds just can’t rip enough money off people.
Report abuse
Consultants, public relations, all a total waste of money. You can bet there is some payback too!
Report abuse
Creating positive PR for Dudley can’t come cheap. To be honest, I think these guys are under funded!
Report abuse
The Council and the cabinet members are to blame for this waste, because indirectly it raises their profile, Sandwell and Dudley have a habit of squandering tax payers money and must be reined in before it is too late.
Report abuse