Cash-strapped Wolverhampton Council spends £65k on 'low carbon development officer'

Bosses are in the process of securing a grant that would cover recruitment costs, expenses and salary for a "low carbon development officer", who would only work with the council for 12 months.

However, the idea was today slammed as a waste of time and money - especially at a time when thousands of jobs and several vital public services are being lost.

Councillor Zahid Shah, who represents St Peters Ward, said: "This is typical of the way the council is being run at the moment.

"They have got rid of 2,000 jobs and now they will use this grant to pay someone who is essentially just a consultant a ridiculous amount compared to the average council worker.

"Why couldn't they have trained some of the people who they have had to put out of work to do the job if they want to reduce the city's carbon footprint?

"They could even have given work to three or four people but instead they will spend a £65,000 grant hiring someone for one year to look at something that isn't a major issue considering the troubles we face at the moment."

Whoever is appointed to the role will work with a range of organisations to develop a number of low carbon and environmental projects to help the wider Black Country. They would also work on projects to help ease fuel poverty.

Councillor John Reynolds, Wolverhampton City Council's cabinet member for city services, defended the idea, saying the development of a low carbon plan is a major issue for the Black Country.

He said: "The development of a low carbon economy is a key priority for the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, and working on behalf of all of the Black Country councils we have been successful in securing an external grant to fund a specialist low carbon development officer for one year."

Low carbon power sources include wind, solar and hydro, which give out substantially lower amounts of carbon dioxide than conventional fossil fuel power generation.

Investment in low carbon power sources and technologies is increasing at a rapid rate all over the world.

Zero-carbon power sources produce about two per cent of the world's energy, but account for about 18 per cent of world investment in power generation.

It is hoped that the new Wolverhampton officer's work will help the council secure future grants as part of the Black Country European Investment Strategy, developed by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership.

Their work would ensure that Wolverhampton City Council would be ready to bid for an EU Structural Fund when one became available.

European Structural Funds provide EU Member States and regions with funds that can strengthen competitiveness and increase employment.

Councillor Reynolds said: "They will be responsible for ensuring that Wolverhampton and the Black Country gets its fair share of the £26m available through European Structural and Investment funds between now and 2020, as well as other funding sources, and developing low carbon projects like energy efficiency schemes, cycle ways and environmental improvements."