News from Labour Matters

Uttoxeter “using a credit card to pay off an overdraft”

The Uttoxeter Advertiser reports that: “A bitter war of words erupted last night over Uttoxeter Town Council’s decision to sell town hall land to Taylor Wimpey.

Town Ward Labour Councillor Martin Blencowe, who has been championing this issue for his constituents, has accused the Tory administration of making “a quick sale” after agreeing a £115,000 deal with the building giant. The Heath Ward councillor said the authority is desperate to cover the “wasted” £65,000 spent on last year’s failed plan to sell the whole building.

“They’re blatantly not looking for the best deal, just a quick sale so they can pay off their debts.

I’ve asked them to consider getting an independent valuation and they simply haven’t done it – they’ve sold the land regardless.

They’ll be spending a huge chunk of the money from the land sale on covering their legal fees.

That leaves them with less than half the money and they’ll have to use their reserves, which currently stand at just £37,000, to subsidise the town hall project.

I want to know where the rest of the money will come from and how they plan to replenish their reserves.

This is like someone using their overdraft to pay off a credit card bill, while using a credit card to pay off an overdraft,” Councillor Blencowe explained.

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