£250 Blackberries for 72 councillors

Councillors in a Black Country borough are set to be offered Blackberry mobile phones free in a move which could cost taxpayers £18,000.

An independent panel is recommending a £250 Blackberry for any of the 72 Dudley councillors who requests one. The council has alreadyshelled out £16,000 on 64 Blackberries for housing managers.

The recommendation is published in a report on councillors' allowances to be considered on Thursday.