Paul Clark

North Herts Council’s cabinet has agreed to spend an extra £43,000 on lawyers, but decided that it could not guarantee that the popular Play Ranger children’s play schemes will not be axed, when it met on Tuesday. 

Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition Steve Jarvis said, “The Council used to provide legal services for North Herts Homes, who paid the Council for this, but North Herts Homes have decided that they don’t need this service any more. Rather than cut the amount spent on lawyers, the council has decided that they will increase the council’s own spending to make up the difference. The same meeting of the cabinet that agreed to spend more on lawyers said that they could not guarantee that the popular children’s Play Ranger scheme, which has been a great success with parents and children this year, will continue in 2010.”“Once again the council has its priorities wrong. It’s more concerned about looking after the council than providing services for local people.”

The final decision on the Play Ranger scheme will have to wait until the council sets its budget next February.