AT Monday, April 11’s Scrutiny Committee meeting, I asked members of the Conservative administration on Swindon Council, who had authorised the council to spend an extra £1m of council taxpayers’ money on repair works on the Mechanics’ Institute?

The answer provided to me at that meeting by members of the administration was ambiguous and unclear, however I have subsequently learnt that the decision to spend an extra £1m of council taxpayers’ money on the Mechanics’ Institute was authorised by senior officers of Swindon Borough Council.

I do not blame officers for taking the decision to spend an extra £1m of council taxpayers’ money on repairs on the Mechanics’ Institute, however why had the ruling Conservative administration, elected by the residents of Swindon, allowed unelected officers to have the final say over £1m of council tax payers’ money?

To me this seems unaccountable and unjust, especially when the council has cut £21m from its budget in the last year. Regardless of the competence of senior council officers it cannot be right for unelected officers to be taking the final decision on millions of pounds of council taxpayers’ money.

I intend to take this matter up, as the leader of the Labour group and explore further how this was allowed to happen.

COUN DERIQUE MONTAUT Leader of the Swindon Labour Group Swindon Borough Council