Council “dithering” costs thousands in extra energy bills

Oct 31 2012 by Liam Murphy, Wallasey News

DITHERING over the future of its buildings is causing Wirral Council to pay thousands of pounds a month in extra energy bills, according to a senior councillor.

The authority had embarked on a scheme to introduce “micro generation” projects such as solar power to cut the costs of heating and lighting council properties.

But a freeze on expenditure and “indecision” on which buildings it will no longer need is actually costing the authority more, a senior Lib Dem councillors now says.

Cllr Stuart Kelly said: “The cabinet say they need to make savings but why have they allowed these schemes to be caught up in their crazy expenditure freeze when they are designed to deliver savings?”

But Cllr Brian Kenny, cabinet member for environment, said: “This project is subject to immediate action to address the council’s budget situation, which includes freezing all non-essential spending .

“We are currently reviewing all of the services that we deliver, including the buildings that we use.”