'Unbelievable' council contract withdrawn

Reporter: Kirsty Rigg
Date online: 22/06/2009

Rochdale Borough Council has remorsefully withdrawn from an advertising contract which supports out-of-town market stalls, following a controversial story published on Rochdale Online News.

Outrage was shared among councillors as it emerged that the council had been placing adverts on employee’s payslips, for market stalls in Todmorden and Hebden Bridge, with no sign of support for Rochdale’s recession bitten stalls.

But today, (Monday 22 June), it was announced that council chiefs have decided to cease the contract, and admitted that the adverts should not have been used at a time when Rochdale town centre is suffering.

Rochdale Borough Council’s Communications Manager Kate Lindley told Rochdale Online: “I agree entirely that the way we handle payslip ads needed to change and the council took action as soon as we became aware.”

Cabinet member for finance, Councillor Greg Couzens said: “Discussions are now taking place to cease the external contract and pay slip advertising will now be looked after in house instead.

“This will be on the same basis that we deliver advertising in Local Matters which means advertising will be restricted to the council’s own services and partner organisations only.

“Quite clearly the council does not agree that advertising markets outside of the borough is helpful for local businesses and I will personally ensure that once the contract has ceased, the first advert to be in the new payslips will be one encouraging staff to shop local.”

The payslips are distributed to 11,500 staff, and Rochdale Borough Council has accepted commercial advertising on them for four years.

Councillor Lambert said: "External advertising on this month's council pay checks leaves a bad taste and a loss of confidence in the intentions of the borough leadership, lets support local business first."

MP for Heywood and Middleton, Jim Dobbin, was aghast and said if the council is promoting markets it should promote the very successful Heywood market.

Conservative Leader Ashley Dearnley said the payslip adverts were “unbelievable” and said the council is “completely out of control.”