News from Westminster Labour

Westminster Conservatives spend nearly £1 million on council website

Despite Westminster Council losing £17 million on investments in now-failed Icelandic Banks, giving 300 staff the sack and struggling with a £20 million hole in the Council’s finances, Westminster Conservatives have spent nearly £1 million on the Council’s website since 2008.

According to a Freedom of Information request by business internet marketplace PeoplePerHour.com, Westminster City Council is the highest spending council in the UK on its website, having spent £940,521 since 2008.

On average, UK businesses spend £3,297 per year on web services, compared to the average UK council’s spend of £40,917 every 12 months during 2008/09.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said: “This latest example of Conservative extravagance is an insult to Westminster residents and another kick in the teeth for the hundreds of Council staff who have lost their jobs. A good website is important but at a time of economic hardship spending £1 million is way over the top. Only last week we revealed that the Council is paying a temporary contractor £900 a day, equivalent to £216,000 a year. Is there no end to this financial madness? With less than a week to go before the polls, Westminster residents still have time to give a damning verdict on the wasteful Westminster Conservative record.”

Other news from Westminster Labour

• Westminster Council joint bottom of London league for Adult Social Care - 6 February 2012
• Westminster Labour calls for an 'outbreak of democracy' over election of new council Leader - 2 February 2012
• West End Commission – open letter to Westminster's Chief Executive - 21 January 2012