Statement by Richard Cairns, TUV South Antrim:
“It was most disappointing to learn that Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council has gone ahead and spent nearly £15,000 on new ceremonial robes for Councillors in the new council.
“Back in February this year I had issued a warning to all Councillors that excessive and unnecessary spending on items such as robes and the chauffeur driven mayoral car would not go down well with the ratepayers of this borough. The furore now over this revelation that such expenditure has gone ahead – even though it was claimed at the time by Councillors that this would not happen – shows just how out of step they are becoming with those that elected them.
“Back in February I was rounded on for raising this issue, with claims that it would not happen. Low and behold just 10 months later we are all now discovering just what our rates are going towards.
“There is always a balance to be struck on what expenditure is necessary and what is not. Politicians cannot on one hand ask people to tighten their belts during times of austerity, yet not stop to consider how they spend public money.
“Perhaps the greatest failure is not understanding, or indeed caring, how the public perceive this.”