Council press officers cost £500,000 a year

Spin doctors in the Black Country and Staffordshire are paid more than £500,000 a year of taxpayers' money each year, figures obtained today reveal.

Across the region councils employ press officers to promote the work of local authorities and try to manage negative and positive publicity.

But the existence of large press offices, and supporting civil servants, was today criticised by a lobby group that says councils should think more about serving people rather than polishing their image.

The Taxpayers' Alliance says funding for spin doctors should be reconsidered at a time when many councils are cutting staff and services to save costs.

Alliance spokeswoman Fiona McEvoy said: "It is unbelievable they still think it's appropriate to spend our tax pounds on press officers to promote the council.

"Residents want what they've always wanted from their local authority such as reliable rubbish collections and street lighting, not thousands of pounds worth of spin.

"These councils should reassess their priorities and consider which is the most important - their image or the population they're meant to serve."

Councillor Darren Cooper, leader of Sandwell Council, today defended the use of press officers, adding: "They provide a 24/7, 365 days-a-year service to the council and the media, dealing with more than 1,600 enquiries in the last year."

Vital

Wolverhampton Council Assistant chief executive Joanne Lancaster said: "Research shows that the media play a vital role in informing the public about local government.

"The council is currently reviewing its marketing and communications function with a target to make £700,000 savings - nearly a third of its total budget.

"A significant proportion of this saving has been achieved by the deletion of posts which have become vacant over the past 18 months."

Councillor Mike Bird, Walsall Council Leader, said: "In the last year they dealt with around 2,000 enquiries from the media, the second highest in the West Midlands."

By Daniel Wainwright