Bigger Government under the Tories

7.56.09am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 13th Oct 2005

More bureaucracy under Northamptonshire Tory Rule says Lib Dems

When the new Tory administration came to power in May, they proudly announced that they wished to make Northamptonshire 'a smaller and more enabling council'

In less than 6 months in power, central bureaucracy in Northamptonshire County Council has actually got bigger:

• A new 'Leadership Support Manager', employing their former political assistant to help the cabinet

• The most lavish suite of offices ever occupied by any Leader of the Council and his cabinet, using former public meeting rooms refurbished at a cost of £146,152. (source: Minutes of the County Council meeting on 23rd June 2005- reply to a question by Cllr. Richard Church)

• Planning to spend £120,000 on bureaucracy to support the creation of a Local Area Agreement, including £60,000 to employ a project manager for just six months! (source: cabinet papers, 10th October 2005 page 156)

'The Tories promised smaller government, but are delivering bigger government. Bigger offices and more bureaucracy while they make disabled people redundant' said Lib Dem Group Leader Richard Church