A town council's decision to spend thousands of pounds on "civic regalia" for the deputy mayoress and her partner have been blasted by opposition councillors.
At a meeting on Thursday, members of Blyth Town Council agreed to spend £15,000 on chains of office for the unelected position. Four Conservative councillors, one Liberal Democrat and two Labour councillors voted against the plans, but the rest of the Labour-led council voted to approve the spending.
The move has attracted significant criticism from Northumberland Conservatives, as well as Blyth Valley MP Ian Levy. It was pointed out that Blyth Town Council has managed without chains for the deputy mayor for the last 13 years.
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Conservative MP Mr Levy said the decision, taken in the midst of a cost of living crisis, should be reversed and has set up a petition calling on the council to do so.
Mr Levy said: "I am absolutely appalled by this decision and I'm calling on Blyth Town Council to see sense and reverse it as soon as possible. We are facing a cost-of-living crisis on the back of the Covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine and it is astounding that the town council thinks this is a priority.
"I’ve set up a petition on my web site so that residents of Blyth can let their Town Council know that they do not want their money spent in this way – benefiting only two people."
A spokesman for the Northumberland Conservative Party described the decision as "Absolutely incredible," adding: "We have been contacted by many local residents who have felt really let down by this waste of tax payers money, especially at such a time.
"We are calling on Blyth Town Council to retract this decision as a matter of urgency."
Blyth Town Council, mayor Coun Warren Taylor and deputy Mayor Coun Kath Nisbett have all failed to respond to requests for comment.
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