Liberal Democrat Leader Questions the True Cost of the Somerset Library Service Judicial Review

Sam Crabb, Leader of the Somerset Liberal Democrat Group, has questioned Somerset County Council’s statement regarding the cost of the Library Service Judicial Review.  Councillor Crabb has written to the Press and Publicity Department

Councillor Sam Crabb:

“On Monday 23rd January the Press and Publicity Department of Somerset County Council put out a very misleading Press Release, claiming to show the cost of the failed Judicial Review to Somerset Residents.

“But no one really knows the actual cost of the Judicial Review yet. Why the Tory run administration is trying to spin down the overall cost is obvious. The cost of their error is enormous, and if they had listened to the public and the Liberal Democrats last February these losses would not have happened.

“The legal costs of the members of the public who took the Judicial Review are not yet known, but combined with the figures that we do know, the overall figure is going to be well in excess of £600,000.

“It would be good to see another Press Release from the Tory administration giving the true figures when they are eventually known.”

Councillor Sam Crabb further added:

“We will be seeing the budget proposals very soon from the Conservatives, ready for their Cabinet meeting on 1st February. I very much hope that they have been listening and have consulted properly this time. They should note that the only Department within the County Council that has grown and not faced severe cuts is the Press & Publicity Department.

“It is vital that frontline services like, youth services, care for the elderly, re-cycling and the library service are maintained. Waste, bureaucracy and back office functions need to be looked at very hard.”

Full breakdown of projected costs can be found here.

Category: Constituency News