The ever-vigilant Beans on Toast has done an investigative piece (cue maniacal laughter) into non-essential costs by local authorities in their circulation area. As usual however, the paper is as about as capable of making an effective enquiry as they are at finding their own backsides without using two hands and a flashlight. Consequently, they end up accepting whatever old bollocks is given to them at face value and then printing it without further question.
Apparently we are supposed to believe that the bill at Swansea Council for what is euphemistically described as “civic transport” is actually less than £12,000 – or is someone having a laugh? Doesn’t the chauffeur get a salary and what about uniforms, etc?
If they delved just a little deeper – although that would be mean actually leaving the office – they would find that besides the mayoral limo for Sticky Dick, a separate car & a driver is often provided for council leader Chris Holley to attend the same official event. Sometimes it is used just to take him back and forth to his Gendros home. The same perk applies to the chief executive and the presiding officer if they are also on official business. Doh!
2 Comments:
I've seen Holley turning up to Swans and Ospreys games in the official car. As you say, reporters seldom have the brains to see through the bullshit peddled by council spokesmen.
Having said that, I wonder how much of the 40p I pay for my copy of the Evening Post goes to providing a company car for the editor?
This is not just a Lib Dem perk by any means. A former Labour leader in Swansea often had the council car pick him up from outside city centre nightclubs at 2 in the morning and the drivers used to claim overtime.
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