LABOUR SLAMMED OVER CCTV DEALS

8.14.02pm GMT Tue 5th Jan 2010

Cllr Richard Jones wants fair deal for Buckley

Flintshire's former Labour administration has been slammed by Buckley Councillor Richard Jones over deals which favoured Labour controlled town and community councils.

Cllr Jones called in an Executive decision to accept over £11,000 of budget pressures for CCTV systems earlier this year and has subsequently carried out a thorough investigation of the funding arrangements of CCTV cameras across the county.

Cllr Jones' research has revealed that the towns of Buckley, Mold, Broughton and Flint pay the full amount towards CCTV systems in their areas.

However, Shotton and others have benefited from a decision by the former Labour group running the County Council to accept their running costs as "budget pressures" on Flintshire's taxpayers.

In addition Connah's Quay also received a £54,000 capital grant from Flintshire's Labour administration towards the cost of installing their CCTV cameras through an Executive decision in January 2006.

Now Cllr Jones is calling for an investigation into what appears to have been unfair favourable treatment to a select few Labour run town councils.

Cllr Jones said: "Shotton Town Council has been repeatedly asked to participate in funding the ongoing associated costs of line rental and maintenance for three cameras, they refuse. These ongoing associated costs continue to be a Budget pressure for Flintshire County Council, valued at some £4577.00.

"I understand that Shotton Town Council have stated that they have absolutely no intention of making any payment entering into any contract with regard to CCTV cameras in Shotton!

Thankfully Buckley councillors consider the safety and security of their residents as a serious issue which should not be compromised, what I want is to ensure that Buckley Town gets a fair deal.

"It seems to me that the towns of Buckley, Mold, Broughton and Flint are getting a raw deal by agreeing to pay the full amount required towards the ongoing costs of line rental and camera maintenance in their towns while others have been subsidised by the former Labour run County Council.

"I want to know why is it that some towns are not paying their fair share? Why have the towns of Connahs Quay and Shotton been treated differently?

"I want a fair deal for the residents of Buckley," added Cllr Jones.

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ENDS