A CRIME-fighting group, has been branded a waste of money by a councillor.

Tony Archer, Tory ward member for Billericay East, said the Basildon District Community Safety Partnership was a “talking shop that simply wasted taxpayers’ cash”.

His comments, which have been rebuffed by fellow Tories, came after plans for the partnership’s work for the coming year were approved by Basildon Council.

The group was created to help the council and other groups, such as police, the fire brigade, probation and charities, work together to prevent crime.

Schemes funded by the group include Pimp My Bike, which sees youngsters build their own bicycles from unclaimed bikes left with police. The summer holiday activity aims to keep youngsters off the streets.

Community Safety Action Zones – where council staff and police team up to target troublesome areas for a month, cleaning up graffiti and cracking down on antisocial behaviour and other crimes – have also been funded by the partnership.

But Mr Archer claimed the group was an unwelcome burden.

He said: “What an absolute and utter waste of public money this is. I’m appalled the taxpayer is having to fund these things all over the country.

“This is just a talking shop creating public sector jobs, when we need to create private sector jobs. It should be stopped immediately.”

Funding for the group between 2010/11 is made up of a grant worth £173,120 from Essex County Council and £45,895 from partners within the group.

Other schemes started by the partnership include setting up groups to look at ways of tackling domestic violence, burglaries and criminal damage, and cutting alcohol and drug abuse.

Deputy council leader Stephen Horgan said it was important for public sector organisations to work together.

He said: “It seems to me that getting all the people in the public services together is a very valuable exercise.

“The best way to organise public services is to work efficiently together.”

Basildon's top cop, divisional commander Chief Supt Glenn Caton, added: “The reduction in crime and antisocial behaviour that Basildon has achieved over the last few years is thanks to the hard work of all agencies in the partnership.

“Past experience has taught us we can best tackle crime by doing it together and I’m confident that, collectively, we can continue to work together to best serve the people of Basildon.”