Allotment fees row flares after mistake

Staffordshire councillors' demands for subsidies for allotment holders have been labelled a disgrace.

Cannock Council leader Neil Stanley said it was "about time these councillors came into the real world."

Councillor Clive Morgan said an error led to allotment fees being higher than they should be. Environment sustainability leader Councillor Anthony Williams was asked about rents after costs for a legal dispute on land at the former Newman Grove allotments, Rugeley, were wrongly attributed to the allotments budget.

It meant allotment fees were set higher and the council will give three months rent-free from January to March 2010.

At Wednesday's council meeting Councillor Morgan asked for revised figures. The original figure was £5,568, but, he said, the council revised it to £3,657.

He said: "They're giving three months rent free but the cost will be higher next year."

Cannock South Councillor John Kraujalis said that allotment holders were paying more than anyone else in Staffordshire as costs were subsidised by councils.

"They should be looking at increasing the support to allotment holders through cost-effective ways."

Councillor leader Neil Stanley said: "It's about time these councillors came into the real world.

"With the cuts in funding from their Labour government to local funding, the council can't afford to keep subsidising allotments.

"As Councillor Williams said at the meeting, council tax payers will not be called on subsidise allotment holders, which includes Councillors Kraujalis, who is one of them. I think it's a disgrace that he's asking the question when payments would benefit him."