'Buy Wiltshire' should mean just that say Lib Dems

Published on Thursday 10th November 2011 by Jon Hubbard

Lib Dem Councillors have pushed the Conservative-run Council to "Put their money where their mouth is" on when speaking about supporting Wiltshire businesses.

At the recent meeting of Wiltshire Council the Lib Dem Finance and Resources spokesperson Cllr Mark Packard challenged the administration to keep, whereever possible, council spending within the county.

Cllr Mark Packard said "As a consumer spending hundreds of millions of pounds each year, Wiltshire Council can support local businesses through its spending. We didn't get a full answer at November's Council meeting, but we're going to continue asking the council to set the target to buy more in Wiltshire in 2012. Currently about half of Council spending is in Wiltshire, but it's fallen slightly this year, and we want to make sure that doesn't continue."

Cllr Jon Hubbard said "My town Melksham, like many others in Wiltshire, is suffering from the huge car park charges increase and the economic downturn. The Council can help by spending more cash in the county with local businesses.

"The proposed Corsham Campus is a perfect example. Wiltshire Council have employed a Bristol-based architect to do the initial work, though there are 26 qualified architectural companies in Wiltshire. We need to ensure that the benefit to Wiltshire in keeping jobs in the county is recognised when the Council chooses contracts."