Christmas gift guide raising questions

A Christmas gift guide aimed at promoting Staffordshire Moorlands businesses along with how a grant of more than £174,000 has been spent has come under scrutiny.

The guide, which many shops advertised in to promote businesses, was expected to be delivered to every household in the area.

However claims were made that the guide, which cost £17,000, failed to be delivered to homes.

The money was used was part of Welcome Back Grant of £174,180 awarded by the government to the district council to support business following Covid-19.

In a question at last week’s meeting of the district council’s service delivery overview and scrutiny panel, Councillor Keith Hoptroff said: “Can the portfolio holder provide a detailed breakdown of how the Staffordshire Moorlands District Council share of the Welcome Back funding was spent, to include fees paid to consultants and the costs for the catalogue?”

In another question, Councillor Gary Bentley, said: “The Support Businesses Christmas Leaflet to promote shops costing, I believe, £17,000. Who put this together?”

Mr  Hoptroff added: “A press release said that everyone would receive a guide. When and how were they distributed? No one in Leek has received one.

“Can I ask how many councillors in this meeting have received one. One of 22 has received a copy. Something does not add up. Are they misleading us?”

Council leader, Councillor Sybil Ralphs said: “We used the company we normally use. I have not got an explanation why some people have not received them, but many did.

“We can’t be held responsible for the delivery as they were a reputable company.

“I will set up an enquiry for an explanation. We paid for it as we expect it to be delivered. A food guide is also out shortly.”

In a further response to Mr Hoptroff question Councillor Ralphs, said: “Welcome Back funding is intended to encourage customers back into town centres High Streets (include or larger villages with a parade of shops) and can support:

• Activities that allow the local authority to safely reopen their local economies including temporary public realm changes
• Communications and public information activity to promote a safe public environment, encourage residents and visitors back and direct business facing activities including temporary works that are additional to normal maintenance regimes in town centres.
• Support local authorities to develop plans for responding to the medium term impact of Covid-19, including through employment of temporary staff.

“The total Welcome Back Grant award was £174,180, spent and committed:

Theme 1: Support to develop an action plan staff salaries and footfall WiFi £37,417
Theme 2: Communications and public information activity (includes printing and distribution of local gift guide and local food guide) £30,097
Theme 3: Business-facing awareness (digital skills pack) £5,676
Theme 4: Temporary public realm works including additional ‘cleaning’ £10,313
Theme 5: Support for visitor economy/boost footfall including works undertaken by SLA with town/parish councils, tourism marketing delivered by Marketing Peak District and refresh of Cheadle Heritage Interpretation panels £77,314
Theme 6: Support local authorities to develop plans for responding to the medium-term impact of Covid-19 includes proposed Cheadle town centre workshops £5000
Balance uncommitted £8363

“The three town councils have all received delegated funding for the delivery of events including:

• Leek Town Council (£17,800) To date claimed £6701
• Cheadle Town Council (£15,840) – To date nil claimed
• Biddulph Town Council (£18,450) – To date nil claimed

“We are awaiting further information from the town councils on their forecast spend to 31.3.2022 but have assumed they will defray their allocations above.”