Telford council’s £8,000 credit card bill
Wednesday 1st June 2011, 8:02PM BST.
Almost £8,000 was spent using credit cards in 12 months by Telford & Wrekin Council, it was revealed today.
The authority said it was following government advice in releasing the 2010/2011 figures.
Ex-leader of the council Andrew Eade spent £226.10 carrying out council duties while chief executive Victor Brownlees spent £1,322.94, mainly at conferences.
Another unnamed director spent £6,421.34, which included £5,578 on equipment for Telford ice-rink.
The cards caused a storm of controversy nationally last week when it was revealed some authorities used them to pay for top hotel rooms, first class flights and Gucci handbags.
Councillor Bill McClements, cabinet member for resources and service delivery, said he would now launch an internal investigation into credit card use for the last four years.
However a spokeswoman for Shropshire Council said a Freedom of Information request would have to be made before the authority would release any details.
Mr McClements said: “We want to make sure that the cards used by high ranking officials have been used appropriately.”
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so what ?
thats nothing, they should be spending more on credit cards in my opinion because its more efficient than cheques and invoices, less paper work, and you get online discounts its a much better way to shop
by the way telford & wrekin council spends about £250 million a year, £8,000 is less than 0.001%
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I applaud councillor McClements and trust that he will upturn everystone to ensure that the public purse was not abused in any way.
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How much have the council spent on all these new Heritage signs that are popping up all over the country?
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.. but John those signs make the ‘heritage’ areas look a lot less trashy than the almost complete history of signeage of all types and states of decay that were there before at at entry points. I’m sure it helps visitor numbers.
Mind you they were almost preferable to the overload of crassness that is the multitude of sales banners at the entry to Lightmoor new housing estate on Horsehay flat.
I don’t think the council pay for heritage signs ‘all over the country’ though, nore even the county.
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I don’t think that Telford & Wrekin councillors and officers bought many “top hotel rooms, first class flights and Gucci handbags” out of a total spend of nearly £8,000, especially as that figure includes £5,578 that was spent on equipment for Telford ice-rink.
Given the horrifically expensive (in real terms) nature of local government purchasing procedures it could well be that they’ve actually saved money for council tax payers.
On the other hand Shropshire Council are doing a bloody good job of convincing their electors that they’ve got something to hide…
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Agreed.
What breathtaking arrogance by Shropshire Council to say that they won’t be releasing their credit card spending unless they get a Freedom of Information request!
This is yet another evasive move by the council that is busy telling everybody that it’s going to be “more accountable”(but never actually follows the words with deeds).
Well, start by telling us – voluntarily, preferably – how you’re spending our money!
The sum run up by Telford and Wrekin is a fairly modest amount compared to some councils.
I trust the Shropshire Star will be filing a Freedom of Information request with Shropshire Council?
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Our municipal correspondent is filing a freedom of information request. Read more here: http://www.shropshirestar.com/blogs/2011/05/31/blog-of-open-government-and-shropshire-council/?mh
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Go get ‘em Dave!!
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So what? £8,000 spent on credit cards, given the councils massive budget, is nothing. I think this is another non-story from the Shropshire Star without all the facts.
Most businesses use credit cards. With many organisations ceasing to accept cheques, and many not willing or able to accept bank transfers, what other way is there to buy miscellaneous goods or services?
“Some authorities” used them for Gucci bags – no evidence that T&W did. I assume that thet Star has made the suggested FOI request and will be giving us a more rounded report in due course?
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Good on them for keeing it so low, i spent more than 8k on my personal card last year and I certainly dont earn as much as they do!
It just shows that they must be very prudent, many councils spent millions on theirs, so telford is clearly very prudent
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“Councillor Bill McClements, cabinet member for resources and service delivery, said he would now launch an internal investigation into credit card use for the last four years.”
Why only four years, Councillor McClements? Why not eight years, or sixteen years, or? Oh, goodness! A thought has just struck me! Councillor McClements would not be playing politics?
Councillor McClements had best ensure he has all his press releases cleared by Clive Elliot, Telford and Wrekin’s new Public Relations Gauleiter.
Hurrah for the new Regimen!
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Its less than my wife spends….!!
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Total non-story (the T&W part anyway). It’s what they spend money on that counts, not what method they use. I hope at least they pay their cards off every month and don’t incur interest, but apart from that – yawn.
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Perhaps they change it every 6 months and recieve 0% on balance transfers and 0% on all purchases for the first 3 months. Also they may get the choice of a stylish carriage clock or spice rack for applying..
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Firstly, this is a shoddy piece of writing that throws together national, County and municipal ‘facts’ as if they were part of the same story. Telford and Wrekin’s expenditure seems minimal and reasonable, but that’s not a headline, is it?
Secondly, this Councillor McClements wants an enquiry into £8,000 of uncontroversial expenditure. How much will that cost? I can’t wait for the revelations that Victor Brownlees ate Monkfish Tail in White Wine sauce at a national housing conference in 2008, or that Andrew Eade caught a taxi from Lilleshall to Wellington without raising a purchase order number. You never know, Councillor McClements may even find some unauthoprised fluff in his navel.
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They went for the carriage clock – every council taxpayer in Telford gets to have it on their mantlepiece for an hour. I’ve checked with the council and your turn is between 2 and 3am on the 16th of september 2018!!
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Provided that these cards were paid off before interest became due, and that nothing inappropriate was paid for (and there’s really no evidence for that), then there’s no problem, and no story here.
My verdict on the Shropshire Star – must try harder!
Perhaps you should stick to UFOs?
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£8,000…. bore of, people spend that all the time let alone a large council…
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thats really very little for a big company like them
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The Council should be congratulated for using a card, at least then staff can shop around on the internet for the best deals! It makes sense to purchase goods on them!
Another story that the Shropshire Star has tried to make into something that isn’t important!!!
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Can I have the airmiles?
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