A row has erupted over Swansea Council’s hefty spending on public relations and marketing. Conservative MS Tom Giffard is demanding a freeze on this nearly £1 million “back office” budget, arguing that the money is better spent on frontline services like street cleaning, road repairs, and schools. He criticises the Labour-run council, saying, “If they can spend over £340,000 a year on communications, why are residents still battling potholes and the highest rate of missed bin collections in Wales?”
In response, Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart defends the expenditure, asserting the necessity of keeping residents informed about services impacting their daily lives. He highlights a recent cost-of-living campaign that reached over 375,000 views as a testament to their efforts. Stewart fired back at Giffard, dismissing his claims as “feckless attempts to generate headlines” by criticising public servants.
The debate intensifies as Giffard’s criticism clashes with Stewart’s defense of Swansea Council’s financial priorities. With over £3.1 billion spent on overall services in recent years, the communications budget represents just 0.03% of total expenditure. Still, Giffard insists, “Labour’s priorities are completely wrong,” pushing for the reallocation of these funds to essential services.
How do you feel about this budget controversy? Should the council shift spending to frontline services or maintain their current communication efforts? Share your thoughts below!