Taxpayers foot 2012 promotion
Tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money is being spent in the West Midlands on officials to promote the 2012 London Olympics. Tens of thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money is being spent in the West Midlands on officials to promote the 2012 London Olympics. Olympic "co-ordinators" are being taken on by councils to "raise awareness" of the games. Staffordshire County Council is advertising for a co-ordinator on a salary of up to £39,000 a year. Funded by the county council, the eight county borough and district councils and Stoke City Council, the post will involve telling people about the games as well as working on sport, business, culture, education and tourism in the area. Read the full story in today's Express & Star.
Olympic "co-ordinators" are being taken on by councils to "raise awareness" of the games.
Staffordshire County Council is advertising for a co-ordinator on a salary of up to £39,000 a year.
Funded by the county council, the eight county borough and district councils and Stoke City Council, the post will involve telling people about the games as well as working on sport, business culture, education and tourism in the area.
Other authorities are following suit, all paying similar salaries.
The Black Country Consortium has appointed marketing co-ordinator Claire Beresford. And in Worcestershire, Peter Turvey has been appointed in a part-time post of about £15,000 funded by the Worcestershire Partnership.
One leading councillor in Staffordshire today labelled the post a waste of money.
Phil Atkins, leader of the Conservative group in Staffordshire, said: "There has got to be a better way of spending this money."
County Council spokesman Steven Jenkins said: "This post is being funded by 10 partners. This is amazing value for money."
