COUNCIL TO SPEND £¾ MILLION ON COMPUTERS DESPITE CUTS

9.31.33pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 17th Jul 2010

Cllr Steve Jarvis, leader of the Lid-Dem group on NHDC

Plans to spend more than three quarters of a million pounds on computers and software were voted through by Conservative North Herts Council at its meeting on Wednesday, despite forecasts that the Council's already dire financial position will get even worse. The spending plans are part of the Council's capital programme for 2010 - 2011.

Liberal Democrat leader of the opposition Steve Jarvis said, "At a time when the council is talking of having to make savings of more than £1,500,000 it is crazy to spend so much on new computers and software. We are told that there is a "business case" for the spending, but nobody can tell me it will actually save the council any money. I'm sure that it would be nice to have the latest version of every piece of software and shiny new computers but the council could manage with older versions for a bit longer just like many local businesses will do. To press on with these plans at the present time is madness."

The council's plans include spending £213,000 on new servers and £250,000 on 'upgrade of software licences.'