Monmouthshire’s new Labour administration has come under fire for spending £4,000 of taxpayers’ money on videos about the hobbies and personal interests of their cabinet members – before they’ve even published any policies.

The Labour cabinet commissioned a videographer to produce eight separate films all in different locations in Monmouthshire, but despite the cost, some have been viewed as few as 12 times on YouTube.

The administration has promised to bring its community and corporate plan – it’s initial policy document – to a full council meeting at the end of October - nearly six months since the election.

Cllr Richard John, leader of the Conservatives in Monmouthshire, said, “Many residents will think spending £4,000 of taxpayers’ money on a series of glamorous videos primarily about cabinet members’ hobbies is inappropriate and wasteful.

“It’s nice that the leader enjoys swimming in rivers, the deputy leader grows his own vegetables and that other cabinet members list amongst their hobbies drinking beer, knitting, submission wrestling and listening to sheep, but all this has been communicated to the public at great expense.

“In the previous Conservative administration, we often uploaded video clips to social media conveying messages about particular policies, but we filmed them ourselves on our iphones.  It never occurred to us to get glammed up and commission a professional videographer, all at great cost to the taxpayer.  Being a cabinet member is about managing the county’s finances and delivering the best possible services - not acting like local celebrities.

“Despite having inherited a balanced budget, the new administration revealed last week that it is already facing an overspend of nearly £9million, yet apparently has spare cash to commission glossy self-indulgent videos.

“I’m amazed these videos, some of which have been watched as few as 12 times on YouTube, are deemed a priority for the new administration when they haven’t even published any policies yet. Almost six months on from the election we really need to see some actual policies from the Labour administration.’’

rather than meaningless showboating at council taxpayers’ expense.”

In the videos we learn:

The Leader enjoys swimming in rivers

The Deputy Leader grows his own vegetables and likes running

Cabinet Member for Education enjoys drinking beer and describes himself as ‘idealistic’

Cabinet Member for Resources lists amongst her current and former hobbies as knitting, spinning wool, submission wrestling and Thai boxing

Cabinet Member for Climate Change enjoys reading, gardening and listening to sheep

Cabinet Member for Active and Inclusive Communities says her role is the “perfect excuse for travelling round the county mystery shopping”.