Pledge to scrap Local Matters

Local Matters - Council 'Magazine'

Following last week’s revelation that a committee of MPs has said the Office of Fair Trading should investigate council-funded newspapers, the local Conservative and Labour parties, and an Independent candidate, have pledged to scrap ‘Local Matters’, the costly Rochdale Borough Council magazine. This leaves the ruling Liberal Democrat party out on a limb with their support for a magazine, produced by a media department costing the council tax payer £2 million a year, dismissed by critics as nothing more than council propaganda.

Labour Group Leader, Councillor Colin Lambert said: “Labour put forward scrapping Local Matters as a budget measure.

“Our manifesto, which we will publish locally tomorrow (Monday 11 April), gives a clear commitment to ending this celebrity and media spin culture.

“If we hold the balance of power after the local elections we will cease publication of Local Matters and this will be part of our efficiency savings.”

Conservative Group Leader, Councillor Ashley Dearnley said: “The Conservative Group is committed to scrapping Local Matters; it is biased, ineffective and costly.”

Frank Salt, Independent candidate in Castleton in the forthcoming local elections said: “Local Matters is a glossy magazine produced by the Media Team and distributed to ‘every’ household in the Borough. It is supposed to give useful information on Council services. It is not supposed to be a free sheet telling residents how wonderful the council is and what a fine job they are doing.

"If elected I will be supporting the scrapping of Local Matters and the cutting down in size of the overstaffed, overpaid media department and ensuring the money saved is spent on essential services.”

www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/39296/mps-call-for-inquiry-into-local-matters-magazine