1:19pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
THE decision of Salisbury's District Council's cabinet to splash out over £170,000 on a Christmas spectacular, complete with new lights, has been branded "excessive" by its own scrutiny panel.
After last year's show failed to impress the cabinet voted to spend £99,700 on new lights and to nearly double last year's budget for the switch-on event and putting up the lights from £37,000 to £72,000.
But yesterday the council's resources overview and scrutiny panel considered members' decision and has recommended either using existing lights instead or meeting additional costs for the scaled-up event from the city council tax precept rather than that of the whole district.
Last year's event was marred by sound problems and a fake ice rink proved to be disappointing to many people who turned up to use it, and the cabinet has admitted the occasion was not the success they had hoped for.
Council leader Paul Sample has said he hopes this year's switch-on will be "one of the best events in the city's history".
Paul Sample, says...
4:13pm Wed 14 May 08
Derek Brown, Salisbury says...
5:30pm Wed 14 May 08
Conductor, Bulford says...
7:09pm Wed 14 May 08
quoteOverview and scrutiny panels also monitor the decisions of the Cabinet. They can 'call-in' a decision which has been made by the Cabinet but not yet implemented. This enables them to consider whether the decision is appropriate. They may recommend that the Cabinet reconsider the decision
quote.
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Global Templar, Marlborough says...
2:36pm Tue 13 May 08