Almost half a million pounds of taxpayers' cash has been 'written off' in an accounting blunder.
Manchester council has overpaid more than £420,000 to regional promotion body, Marketing Manchester, but will not claw back the cash because it would be a 'bureaucratic nightmare'.
The authority is meant to foot the bill for 35 per cent of Marketing Manchester's funding with the remaining nine Greater Manchester councils splitting the bill for the other 65 per cent.
But the ratio has been accidentally reversed in an accounting mix-up, meaning Manchester taxpayers have funded 65 per cent for the past six years.
The remaining nine authorities have been undercharged by an average of £46,000 each over the six-year period.
The error emerged in a report to the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities which established the agreement in 2004 to fund Marketing Manchester , which seeks to attract business and tourism to the region.
The city's Lib Dems have branded it 'financial incompetence' and called on the District Auditor to investigate the overspend.
Coun Paul Shannon said: "This is a scandalous error. Manchester does not have spare cash to dish out to other more wealthy boroughs. With our high levels of poverty, deprivation and unemployment, Manchester needs every penny it can get. “Frankly, Labour are Robin Hood in reverse - they are robbing the poor to give to the rich.
"It's bad enough to lose £420,000 in the first place but to not bother to claw it back is disgraceful.”
Manchester's deputy leader Coun Jim Battle said: “There was a misunderstanding and it has now been corrected, end of story. It would be bureaucratic nonsense to chase a few thousands pounds. It will cost more to administer and correct.
“Marketing Manchester is a fantastic investment which benefits all of Greater Manchester. “We are always pleased to work with out fellow authorities and I'm sure it will be reciprocated.”
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Moorlok, London (02/02/2010 at 11:36)
Councillor Jim Battle said: " It would be bureaucratic nonsense to chase a few thousands pounds."!!!!
....It is nonsense to allow these bureaucratic wasteful cretins license to fleece the taxpayer of any more money!!!!.......they should be in jail for fraud and mismanagement of public funds!, they are beyond belief!!
Ace Riley, outsidethebox (02/02/2010 at 11:45)
Mike S, Manchester (02/02/2010 at 11:47)
Maybe Councillor Battle's expenses claims can go towards repaying the money owed to Manchester and then let's see if it's not worth bothering about!
Mike S, Manchester (02/02/2010 at 11:49)
Savage Mandarin, Manchester (02/02/2010 at 11:51)
Might I - as a resident of Manchester, who pays his Council Tax - ask Mr Battle to justify this statement, providing figures in support; or is that going to be too much like hard work for him? Will other Councillor colleagues who don't support him be prepared to make themselves known, and insist that this loss is not ignored - or will that be too much like hard work as well?
And since when was the phrase "end of story" - which is more suited to an argument down the pub than to an official statement about the loss of nigh on half a million pounsds - considered appropriate on the lips of a public servant, who is paid to report to the public; to protect their interests; and to properly use the monies which they have no choice but to) pay - the public. Has he really no imagination - or shame - at all?
Mark,Radcliffe. (02/02/2010 at 11:53)
Moorlok, London (02/02/2010 at 11:55)
Dave (02/02/2010 at 12:14)
Dave Sherwood, Irlam (02/02/2010 at 12:28)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (02/02/2010 at 12:28)
You couldn't make it up.
salfordrat (02/02/2010 at 12:45)
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (02/02/2010 at 12:52)
salfordrat (02/02/2010 at 12:54)
On this board I often see petty criminals referred to ask 'scumbags'. Well, these people, all involved in this, I say are SCUMBAG little toerag thieves. Get them out.
Jiggerz, Mancunia (02/02/2010 at 12:57)
'End of story'?! Just how hardfaced and pompous can he be? You have blown almost half a million pounds of tax payers money and you make it sound like you spent the change of your mum's fiver on a 20p mix from the penny tray!
If it weren't for the fact that no matter what Labour do to Manchester, they keep getting voted back in, this lot wouldn't be quite so cocky when it comes to our money. Stop voting them back in!
Ace Riley, outsidethebox (02/02/2010 at 13:08)
It would be bureaucratic nonsense to chase a few thousands pounds. It will cost more to administer and correct.
Hurry O'Caine - the Irish Whirlind, Typhoon Tipperary (02/02/2010 at 13:08)
Ace Riley, outsidethebox (02/02/2010 at 13:11)
Hurry O'Caine - the Irish Whirlind, Typhoon Tipperary (02/02/2010 at 13:52)
trueblue, manchester (02/02/2010 at 14:12)
Ace Riley, outsidethebox (02/02/2010 at 15:03)
No doubt that would get built quicker than a youth/community centre for the locals?
Savage Mandarin, Manchester (02/02/2010 at 15:07)
Andanotherthing, Mcr (02/02/2010 at 15:17)
Why is it the end of the story? You know where it is, GET IT BACK as you would from a constituant. This is not The Councils money it is ours.
As for the statement “We are always pleased to work with out fellow authorities and I'm sure it will be reciprocated.” Is that not the same as doing dodgey business with a nod and a wink?
Knowall, stretford end (02/02/2010 at 15:37)
Audenshaw Bob (02/02/2010 at 15:47)
£420,000 is a 'few thousand ponunds' is it? A few thousand pounds t me is £4,000.
No wonder they waste so much of our money with 'a few thousand' here and a 'few thousand' there. What kind of attitude is that at any time, never mind in the worst recession on record.
They pursue old people for a few quid through the courts for council tax - no bureacratic waste of time then is it.
I overpaid £500 on council tax and it took them 6 months to pay it back. However when it was back on track I was late paying it as it wasn't on a direct debit due to the overpayment and guess what? Threatened Court!
J smith (02/02/2010 at 16:02)