Nicola Grant Workers Party Representative calls the actions of Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon council irresponsible and inappropriate in giving gifts of hampers to the great and the good and those who earn hundreds and thousands of pounds.
Ms Grant said it would seem that elected representatives were unaware that hampers were sent to individuals and companies who were extremely well paid as Christmas gifts not only in Northern Ireland but further afield which cost the ratepayers over £10,000 and no one seems to be aware of who made the decision and authorised the expenditure. She added as rates are rising for businesses and residents and people are struggling to make ends meet day and daily to hear that gifts of hampers to well heeled individuals is yet another slap in the face for ratepayers. Many people who live within the Council catchment area will have had to go into debt to provide even the essentials for Christmas so their families can have a Christmas dinner and a present. This shameful and exstravagant expenditure on the part of the council is outrageous and those who made the decision must be held to account.
Ms Grant said there now must be an audit of all councils to determine if other councils across Northern Ireland have engaged in similar expenditures. Adding that if the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the head of the civil service who were recipients of these gifts did not see how inappropriate these was and take action to ensure there would be no further waste of taxpayers money, then the question must be asked why not.
Ms Grant concluded by saying are those who run our public sector totally oblivious to the cost of living crisis that ratepayers face and they struggle’s they have living from payday to payday to feed and buy clothes for their children”or do they just not care” it is gut wrenching news about such a cavalier attitude some council officials hold towards the public purse.