6:50am Sunday 21st March 2010
By Ian Mason
Hounslow Council handed out more than £2,500 in £20 notes in what critics are calling “bribes” for residents’ ideas on how the authority’s finances should be spent.
A Freedom of Information request from the Hounslow and Brentford Times revealed more than £3,000 was spent on a single budget consultation event.
Along with £20 notes being handed out to 129 grateful residents, £437 was splashed out on catering for last year’s meeting, which was designed to ensure the council was spending money on the services most important to taxpayers.
In the previous year, 2008-09, no money was offered in exchange for views, but a council spokesman said this resulted in only “a handful” of attendees.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, lashed out at the concept of paid-for consultations.
He said: “This is putting the cart before the horse.
“People would come to consultation meetings for free if they felt their views were actually being listened to.
“It is a depressing state of affairs when people are so sceptical of whether councils will represent them properly that they need to be bribed with their own money just to contribute ideas.”
The council used the same tactic in 2007-08, when it handed over £10 to each of the 82 consultation participants.
However, catering costs that year were more than twice as much, with £924 being forked out.
A spokesman for the council defended the approach.
He said: “129 residents gave up a winter evening of their own time to help the council shape how it can serve the community better. We provided tea, coffee and hot food.
“We also offer each volunteer a small payment to cover their travel expenses and for taking part – some accept this and others do not.
“It is the least we could do and helps us to get a good number of volunteers.
“The same approach is used in all reputable research exercises, and avoids risking wasting taxpayers’ money.”
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