Daily Express: £17m black hole but council manages to throw £37,000 party

By Martyn Brown

A CASH-strapped council has been slammed for splashing out £37,000 on a lavish party to boost staff morale.

Southend Council managed to stump up the cash to wine and dine staff at the £127-a-head bash despite facing a £17million budget black hole.

Guests were treated to champagne and hors d'oeuvres on arrival before tucking into a two-course meal with wine followed by an evening of entertainment.

The knees-up for 260 council workers and 30 councillors was paid for with a £25,000 Government grant and £11,500 of donations from sponsors.

Details of the party were revealed at a time when the Conservative-run council in Essex has announced an inflation-busting 4.9 per cent council tax rise, which will push the rate of a band D home up from £1,171 to £1,229.

It has also suggested a rash of cuts including slashing free travel for the over-60s. Critics yesterday blasted the event as a waste of public money.

Martin Terry, leader of the Southend borough council's Independent group, said: "The public is bound to feel angry when they are being faced with rising bills and increased council tax.

"Many people will have concerns about taxpayers' money, whether raised locally or nationally, being used for this function." Mark Wallace from the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "This is disgraceful for over-stretched taxpayers who had to foot the bill for this party. Doesn't the council have better things to do than have a jolly at our expense?

"All people want for their taxes is decent services – good schools, bins collected on time and police catching criminals. Instead, their priority seems to be having a good time." The party at the seaside town's famous Cliffs Pavilion in October last year came as the council revealed it was facing a crippling budget shortfall over the next four years.

Richard Jenkin from Hockley, near Southend, said: "It never ceases to amaze me what local councils do.

They are as bad as the mob in Westminster who are only interested in themselves.

"I'm certain they all had a very nice time. That's all that matters. I bet they can't wait for the next 'jolly up'." Council leader Nigel Holdcroft defended the party claiming it was "good value for money". The Conservative councillor added: "The council has got a very large number of hard working staff and it is recognised in any organisation that if you want to get the best out of staff, you have to recognise high achievement.

"That's what the event was about and I think it was good value for money. I have no problem with holding the event at all."