SIR,
It is apparent that the financial affairs of
Monmouthshire County Council need to be
examined by the district auditor. Recently,
tradesmen who are authorised to obtain
essential supplies to maintain work in hand
have been refused supplies by builder's merchants,
because the council has not paid its
accounts.
The well equipped joinery and plumbing
workshops on Station Road, Raglan, are shortly
to be closed due to the ending of the lease.
There are several tradesmen at this depot who
now have no idea where they will be based.
The titles of various departments have also
recently been changed for no apparent reason;
the cost of new stationary and the re-stenciling
of all the vehicles is proving to be a costly
exercise.
We read in the press that the county council
is short of revenue, yet not so long ago it purchased
part of High House Farm, Bryn Gwyn,
for the sighting of a new cattle market estimated
to cost in the region of £5 million and rising.
Over the years in this county, five cattle
markets have closed, the most recent being
Newport. The main beneficiaries of a new
market will be auctioneers and farmers, which
prompts the question: Why can't both parties
finance a new market, relieving the county
ratepayers of a heavy financial burden? It is
hoped that councillors who are farmers, or
wives of farmers, will take no part in the discussions
relating to the new market.
Due to the inexplicable years of delay in the
building of a new County Hall, the proposed
new headquarters is almost unaffordable but
very necessary. It is fortunate that the development
is to be sited on council-owned land,
thus saving on site costs.
The other cause for alarm is where employees
are made redundant, or retire on health
grounds and shortly after are re-employed in
the same departments. We have evidence
where this has frequently occurred within the
county constabulary.
Up until quite recently, the finance department
was franchising computer software from
Hereford City Council for rates and rent at
substantial cost. It is evident that the competence
of both officers and councillors needs
looking into.
Bill Bernard
(Monmouth)