Ulster Unionist Party Group Leader in Belfast City Council, David Browne MBE, has warned that the Council will bring itself into disrepute if it approves a proposal to grant political parties £175,000 a year for ‘political assistance’.
Alderman Browne MBE said:
“The Ulster Unionist members on Belfast City Council are totally opposed to this proposal. There is no justification for it whatsoever and were it to proceed, ratepayers all across the City would be understandably disgusted at a significant amount of money being used solely for party political purposes.
“This £175,000 can either be spent on supplementing party coffers or it can go towards key city services. If other Parties believe this funding is required, which will cost up to £700,000 over the length of the current term, it is up to them to tell the ratepayers what future services they believe should be reduced to pay for it.
“The Ulster Unionist Party entered into last May’s election with a pledge to deliver value for money to ratepayers; we are therefore adamant that this proposal should not proceed. If money is so freely available our belief is that it should be passed back to ratepayers through a reduction in next year’s rates bills.
“Whilst I realise that local councils are shortly to assume new major powers such as planning and economic development, I believe we should have the political and intellectual capacity to do this within the already planned structures. We are elected by local people to make decisions for local people; we do not need a swathe of well-funded party advisers in City Hall to do it.”