Brent residents are outraged that Brent Council’s ruling Labour Executive took themselves to an all expenses paid “Away Day” in a plush hotel in Buckinghamshire to plan multi-million pound cuts to Brent’s Budget. This included dinner, wine and accommodation at a cost of around £5000.

News shot around the Town Hall recently that Brent’s Labour Administration have re-introduced their policy of holding “Away Days” at Latimer Place Hotel in Chesham, instead of in Brent.

As one of their first moves to save Council Tax payers’ money on taking control of the Council in 2006, the Liberal Democrat leadership scrapped the expense of having the Executive and senior Council officers stay away in expensive Hotel venues.  

Between 2006 - 2010 the Liberal Democrat Leader of Brent Council, Cllr Paul Lorber, insisted that all Executive budget planning meetings would take place in Brent, in Brent Council owned facilities.  Under the Liberal Democrats, these meetings were held at Bridge Park Community Centre or the Council’s training centre in Wembley, without overnight stays, as a result over the 4 years period around £40,000 was saved.

In our view when Council Taxpayers money is at stake having these kinds of meetings in plush hotels outside of Brent is not justifiable.  We’re calling on the Labour Executive to scrap their proposed trip to the hotel in October (and in future years) and to hold their meetings in Brent at a fraction of the cost.

You can find out more information about us at www.brentcouncillibdems.com