Council worker criticises slap-up meal for staff

Cornwall Council faces "chronic underfunding"

A Cornwall Council employee has criticised an award ceremony at the Eden Project at a time when his department is "unfit for purpose" because of underfunding.

Martin Wright, a commons and greens registration officer at the authority, spoke out after he was invited to the event.

He criticised the cost in an email to chief executive Kate Kenally and copied local media outlets.

Cornwall Council said it was right to reward staff and the event was sponsored and would cost less than £1 per employee.

The event at Eden is due to hosted by Kernow King Edward Rowe

Mr Wright's email said: "I think an overhaul of budget allocation within the authority is long overdue, as moneys currently allocated to the Public Rights of Way Team is becoming unfit for purpose.

"If ‘our residents' money is precious’ (commitment 5 of the new Council Charter), please spend it on the statutory services our residents expect, not on a three-course slap-up meal to select council workers."

Cornwall Council chief executive Kate Kenally said it was important to reward staff

Ms Kenally's reply to the email said: "Our staff awards form an important part of our reward and recognition programmes as part of our wider employee deal set out in the Council Charter."

She said the awards were a completely separate matter.

Ms Kenally said she had flagged the issues raised and encouraged Mr Wright to engage with initiatives the council was running to improve its ways of working and simplify processes.

The council said the event had various sponsors including Agar Management Consultancy Limited and PwC.

It said: "Our staff are the council's greatest asset, who, despite working under the pressure of the financial challenges facing every local authority in the country, have continued to deliver the services residents rely upon.

"It is therefore right we recognise their commitment to Cornwall by celebrating their achievements and determination to continually deliver beyond expectations."

The statement said: "While we recognise that in the current economic climate we have to ensure every penny we spend is justified and have identified efficiency savings to ensure we provide the maximum value for money for our taxpayers, using a small proportion of our staff development budget to recognise members of staff is a sensible and proportional cost which will benefit the authority through helping provide a more motivated and valued workforce."