WARRINGTON Borough Council has been slammed for allegedly taking £30 million away from local businesses over the last three years.
The criticism comes from Warrington North Labour MP Helen Jones (pictured).
She says a presentation given to the Lib Dem-Conservative council’s own Recession Recovery Task Group last month revealed that local procurement spending has reduced from 48.2 per cent to 38 per cent over the last three years.
“This represents a loss of business to the local economy of approximately £10 million per year,” she said.
“Since early last year I have been calling on the borough council to help local businesses by launching a ‘Warrington First’ campaign to see more council contracts given to firms in Warrington.
“They’ve made lots of promises but taken no action. The fact that figures have now emerged showing that £30 million has been taken away from local businesses is frankly disgraceful and the opposite of what the council should be doing.
“The council should be awarding more contracts to local companies who are ready and willing to provide services. I want the council to improve how it communicates with local businesses so that they have a better chance of winning contracts.
“The benefit of awarding contracts to firms in Warrington is clear for all to see – except for the council it would seem.”
Council leader Ian Marks (pictured below) said: “The MP will know from the rest of the presentation to the all-party 
Recession Recovery Task Group that the council is committed to supporting local businesses whenever possible.
“However we have to balance the savings that can be made through larger contracts with support to many smaller businesses on less favourable terms. We also have to comply with the law on procurement legislation which limits our ability to favour local businesses.
“What we are increasingly doing is to introduce community benefit clauses in contracts to encourage contractors to maximise their use of local sub-contractors. Wherever we can, we want the Warrington pound to be put back into Warrington. We are also improving our communication with local businesses so they are aware of what opportunities are available to them.”
Council takes £30m from local business
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
4 Comments
Is this the MP whose glorious leader and Prime Minister gave us “British Jobs for British Workers?”
Without a complete breakdown of what the money was actually spent on, you can’t ascertain whether more money could or should have been spent locally or not. For a proper analysis you would have to look at each and every purchase and see if there was a locally sourced alternative, and if it offered local taxpayers real value for money. Maybe an analysis should be done of where MPs spend their (our taxes that we pay them with) money to see if they are supporting their constituents.
Baz -You are so right a bit of double standars springs to mind??
What’s new though from Labour – “They’ve made lot’s of promises but taken no action” Over Five Million families hit when Labour abolished the 10p tax rate – Now frankly that’s disgraceful – I’m sure both Labour MP’s at the time voted for this to happen? Cause pain on Warrington people voted for by Helen Jones MP and Helen Southworth MP Labour
and don’t forget wiseone, when we had two Labour MP’s they were both claiming over £200,00.00 each a year in allowances and expenses!! roughly in line with some of their constituents in Bewsey and Dallam I would imagine!! Oh, plus the employment of family members to boost the income even more…. talk about milking the gravy tray to the hilt!