ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEGLECTED BY LIB DEMS (18/01/02)

Conservative Councillors call for less bureaucracy in Somerset, and more interest to be taken in the economic development of the County.

The manufacturing base in Somerset has been gradually eroded. 900 jobs have gone from Westland Helicopters based at Yeovil.

Instead, the only growth industry in the County is bureaucracy. Administration is on the increase at the expense of productive industry.

One Government agency in the South West suggest an additional 1300 staff are required, because of the increase in legislation from Westminster, to assist those already paid to spend taxpayers money.

‘It is not surprising that the 900 job losses made the front page of both local and national papers and television whilst an announcement by a Local Government Agency that increased legislation would require 1300 more administration jobs fails to take the media by storm,’ commented Conservative County Councillor Allen Cotton.

These jobs are non-productive and cost the taxpayer money instead of making money for the country.

Conservative leader John Smeaton comments, ‘Just what has Liberal Democrat administration at Somerset County Council achieved for the economic regeneration of Somerset?

‘We hear plenty of initiatives about ‘consulting’ and 1000 member “people panels” and similar ineffective activities but little or nothing about insuring the future of the economic well-being of Somerset.

‘It’s about time this was made a priority and we intend to ensure that a proper economic plan is developed and acted upon’