‘Round about’ £6,250 for a council Christmas tree (From The Northern Echo)

Durham County Council use £50,000 for eight decorated Christmas trees

8:47am Tuesday 22nd December 2009 in News By Stuart Arnold

FESTIVE CHEER: The Christmas tree that has been erected on the roundabout outside County Hall, Durham City

‘Round about’ £6,250 for a council Christmas tree THE region’s biggest council has defended spending £50,000 on Christmas trees saying they will become festive landmarks.

Durham County Council said the eight trees, placed on roundabouts and roads throughout the county, would promote Christmas cheer and bring a smile to motorists’ faces.

The £50,000 total – an average of £6,250 per tree – includes the cost of bases and one-off electrical work.

But county councillor John Shuttleworth said the spending was unnecessary at a time when the authority was seeking to make savings and many other people were having to tighten their belts.

Councillor Shuttleworth said: “There is £60m in savings to be found the year after next and £50,000 could easily be the equivalent of three or four jobs within the county council.

“There is a recession on and people are tightening their belts and these people are frittering away money on things that have no economic benefit whatsoever.

“In the 12 years that I have been here, there has never been a tree on the County Hall roundabout – which there is now – and there is already one in the grounds, which you can see from the main road anyway.

“This year, we have never had so many trees when just a few here and there costing about £100 each would have been enough.

“It appears that with this council it is all about image now, and spending on things which are not really needed.”

In an internal response to a question from staff, county council chief executive George Garlick said the cost of the trees also included bases for them, ducting, and a control cabinet for the electrics.

He said: “We felt that it was appropriate to celebrate this time of year in this way and it is an extension of the current lighting schemes that are placed in various locations and town centres.

“By placing the Christmas trees in eight key locations around the county, it will cover the major routes to ensure maximum impact and we hope that it allows motorists to enjoy their journey that much more and bring a smile to their faces.”

Steve Keetley, head of technical services, said: “In the past, there have been many small budgets funding festive lights and decorations across the county.

“Becoming a unitary authority has given us the opportunity to pool these resources and provide a number of additional welcoming Christmas trees to promote festive cheer in eight key locations in County Durham.

“Although the costs may appear high, the majority of this investment is one-off and has funded long-term benefits.

“The installation of a permanent electrical connection and the associated traffic management costs will not be repeated in the future.

“We believe these sites will become festive landmarks to both residents and visitors alike.”

Durham North MP Kevan Jones said the council was right to celebrate Christmas in this way.

He said: “People need to get it in perspective. It’s a council with a budget of half-abillion pounds.

“It’s a bit of festive cheer.”