Did Tories cloud true cost of BTP ‘spin’ bill?
Did the Cabinet member responsible for the Bath Transport Package seek to cloud the true cost of ‘communications’ relating to the project? That is the question being asked by Liberal Democrats. In January, Councillor Caroline Roberts (Liberal Democrat, Newbridge) quizzed the Conservative Cabinet member on how much had been spent on publicity for the Bath Transport Package (BTP). The answer she received was £115,000. It has now emerged that the Cabinet member may have been seeking to downplay the true extent of spending on ‘spin’ for the BTP by quoting a figure relating to spending only over 9 months of 2008. Follow-up questions by Don Foster MP have revealed that the true amount is twice as much! The Council has budgeted £232,000 for BTP ‘communications’ over the period 2007 to 2009. Councillor Caroline Roberts commented: “The answer I received in January shows the Conservative Cabinet’s attitude to the BTP for what it really is. They are determined to force through the entire package
