Hucknall Councillor blasts County Council spending on offices and virtual meeting equipment

A Hucknall Councillor has again criticised Nottinghamshire County Council's plans to improve their own facilities instead of focusing on helping residents living in the local area.

In January, the Council confirmed that they intended to spend over £335,000 on live-streaming technology to improve the quality of broadcasts of meetings from the chamber in County Hall.

However, Councillor Dave Shaw who represents Hucknall West for the Independent Alliance, said this money was better spent on "…looking after hungry children" and "fixing Hucknall's broken roads and pavements."

Speaking at the Full Budget Council meeting of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Shaw said: "There are currently 20 people out of a population of 880,000 watching this meeting live on YouTube. Yet – you maintain that spending £437,000 on what amounts to a few stands and speakers is a good use of the Council Tax you are about to put up. It's a waste of money. It's crazy – we have children in places like Hucknall starving. They're suffering from a poorer education because of systematic cuts in their education and this, finessing your broadcasts is a priority."

Councillor Shaw has also been outspoken about the County Council's plans to build brand new offices on the Top Wighay Farm estate on the Hucknall and Linby border.

He added: "Free school meals claimants have gone through the roof – yet you tell me the public want their money to be spent on brand new, £15.7million offices we can ill afford and do not need as more and more people work from home."

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Shaw said: "I'm amazed that the Conservatives think increasing their spin doctors, buying new technology and building a new office should be a priority.

"The Independents had a fully costed, legal plan to spend our money fixing our broken roads and pavements. It's boneheaded, illogical and now the fact the future of Hucknall Library could be under threat as they move services into Top Wighay Farm is even more of an insult."