Royal Borough boss launches attack after Observer revealed full extent of town hall financial blunder
A Senior Tory from the Royal Borough has launched a scathing attack on the town’s Labour administration after a multi-million pound maths blunder, revealed by The Observer
Councillor David Burbage, leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, has waded in to the political row in Slough after a miscalculation from blundering Slough council beancounters wiped out a possible saving to the taxpayer of £26.5m.
Cllr Burbage said: “Labour’s mismanagement of public finances at Slough council looks like leaving a massive hole that the taxpayer will have to pick up.
“Slough residents will rightfully be feeling very let down and should make their views made to those responsible.”
The Observer revealed two weeks ago the full extent of the council’s maths error, made when adding up the cost of outsourcing its back office services in a ‘flagship’ deal with the private sector.
It turned a potential £26.5m saving to the taxpayer into a £2.7m bill and Cllr Burbage has backed calls from fellow Tory Cllr Dexter Smith, of Colnbrook with Poyle, for urgent action.
The council said the staff responsible do not work at the council anymore, but would not confirm individual details.
Cllr Burbage added: “If Labour cabinet member Cllr James Walsh [Lab, Colnbrook with Poyle] has ‘lost confidence’, then what hope is there for residents? Cllr Smith is absolutely right to be calling for action over this.”
A Slough Borough Council response will be added in due course.