In-house printing concern (From Gazette Series)

In-house printing concern

THE LEADER of Stroud District Council has defended its policy for printing official post and accused the Labour group of showing "scant regard for accuracy".

Cllr John Stephenson-Oliver (Con, Painswick) spoke out after the Stroud Labour Group publicly called for an explanation why official council post was being sent from Cirencester.

Before bringing the matter up at the council's scrutiny committee, Cllr Miranda Clifton (Lab, Cam East) called on the ruling Tories to give an explanation.

She said: "It seems that Stroud District Council has done a deal with Cotswold District Council.

"All our committee papers and official post is e-mailed to Cirencester where it is printed out, copied and posted.

"Councillors have not been given a proper explanation for this decision so we can't be sure that we are getting value for money.

"We have many local printing firms who might like to bid for this work. If jobs go outside the council, we should at least be keeping work for local people."

But Cllr Stephenson-Oliver said the Labour claims showed "scant regard for accuracy", were "short of facts", ignored "agreed protocol" and "lacked judgement".

He said: "This council is obliged to seek best value in its procurement of services and as such it is currently trialing the use of Cotswold District Council printing services in order to print committee papers."

By law the council must look at all options for the provision of services and an appraisal showed three options to take regarding the printing of documents.

Printing directly was not considered attractive due to the high cost and using the private sector would have logistical problems - meaning joint use of another authority's facilities was tried first.

Added Cllr Stephenson-Oliver: "With regard to the normal politeness of council procedures, it is disappointing that neither the chairman of scrutiny Cllr Hilary Fowles (Lab, Dursley) or Cllr Clifton thought fit to inform either the appropriate officers or myself.

"As to the judgement one would have thought that a press release may have been appropriate after the scrutiny committee had met and not before.

"As it turned out, by then they would have received a full explanation. "If then they had been unsatisfied with the evidence before them further action may have been justified."

The printing trial at Cirencester will continue until the end of the committee cycle that follows the one currently in progress.