6:00am Sunday 14th March 2010
By Paul Offord
CALLS are being made for a full assessment to be published on the cost of changing Basildon into a borough.
Opposition councillors do not believe the ruling Conservative claims it will only cost around £1,000 to change the status of Basildon Council, from a district to a borough.
They claim the application, which is now being considered by the Queen, would be little more than a costly “ego trip” for the Tory administration.
A change to borough status would enable Basildon to have a mayor for the first time. Billericay town councillor Terence Gandy, from the UK Independence Party, fears the council will invest in expensive new mayoral robes and a mayoral car.
Lynda Gordon, leader of the opposition Labour group, claimed it will cost thousands to change signposting, business cards for staff members and other administrative changes.
Mr Gandy said: “I suggest a complete cost assessment is made, including ongoing future expense, so the public are fully aware of the financial burden on ratepayers.”
Mrs Gordon said: “I don’t believe for a minute it will only cost £1,000. Council taxpayers need to know exactly how much this ego trip is going to cost.”
The ruling Conservatives claim borough status will raise the profile of Basildon, Billericay and Wickford, and attract more investment to the area.
Malcolm Buckley, Tory cabinet member for the environment on Basildon Council, said: “They are mistaken and the cost will only be around £1,000.
“We would not buy a mayoral car unless it was sponsored by a generous private company.
“The administrative costs would be minimal because administrative things like letter heads are printed straight from computers these days. These can be easily changed on the computer before you make print outs.
“We can stick stickers over road signs to change the name, instead of having to order new ones.”
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