Christmas tree rented by city council cost taxpayers £4,450
NOTTINGHAM City Council spent more than £4,000 renting a Christmas tree last year despite its leader claiming it "didn't cost" the taxpayer.
The council was criticised after it rented the 35-foot tall tree to stand in the atrium at its new headquarters, Loxley House in Station Street, for just 35 days.
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Showpiece: The rented tree at the Nottingham City Council offices at Loxley House.
The council told the Post it expected to receive more than £2,000 in sponsorship from private companies to help pay for the tree.
However, a Freedom of Information Act request has now shown the council only received £550, leaving the taxpayer to pick up the remaining £4,450.
This comes just four months after council leader Councillor Jon Collins wrote on Twitter: "Tree was sponsored so it didn't cost".
In a statement to the Post today, he said: "That was my understanding at the time. Clearly sponsorship didn't come in to the extent that we had hoped."
Sponsorship included £150 from Octavian Continental Ltd, £100 from Senator International, £100 from Mansell Construction Service Ltd and £200 from Arrow Light Rail Ltd.
The council has confirmed it will not be renting a tree again this year. A spokesman said: "Having the tree was a one-off for our first year in Loxley House, and so we have no plans to repeat it.
"The tree was however successfully used as the centrepiece for our Christmas Stars Appeal which attracted donations from our staff of around £10,000 worth of presents for over 500 looked-after children in Nottingham.
"We had hoped to get more money from sponsors based on indications of interest, but ultimately secured £550."
Last Christmas the council's corporate directors also personally paid for five smaller trees for each floor of Loxley House.
These artificial trees will be used again this year and decorated by staff, but the council will not be renting a larger tree for the atrium. The council says it is looking to find a different focus for this year's Christmas appeal.
The Freedom of Information Act response, which has been published on the WhatDoTheyKnow website, stated inaccurately that the £550 in sponsorship was for "purposes of providing Christmas presents for needy children".
However, the council has confirmed this money was used to offset the costs of the tree and not to directly pay for presents.
Georgina Culley, leader of the Conservative Group at the city council, described it as a "huge folly".
She said: "I would have thought spending taxpayers' money to the tune of £5,000 on a Christmas tree to go in the centre of the admin building – which is what Loxley House is – was highly inappropriate."
24 Comments
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by FreddyAdu
Friday, October 07 2011, 3:47PM
“I've heard rumours that this year the tree will consist of consultants, arranged in a pyramid, holding 'partnership branches'.”
by 1750000a
Friday, October 07 2011, 1:26PM
“Nottingham city council know how to waste money and they wonder why nottingham has such a high unemployment rate. Answer is because they fail to spend money in the right areas. I hope all those who vote them in continue to suffer until nottingham becomes a ghost town. A Vote for collins = long term a trip to signing on”
by Grizzleybear
Friday, October 07 2011, 1:22PM
“to Cliftonion thanks for the blog short cut. ncclols.blogspot.com
How very good the video was, what an uncanny likeness to Our Fuerer here in Nottingham”
by John_Carlton
Friday, October 07 2011, 7:48AM
“Neilant, my attitude towards disabled people is much more noble than yours. I want them to receive the absolute maximum amount they can without it being diluted by robbing criminals.
That you are happy for fake claimants to rob genuine people of their full rights shows exactly what sort of person you are.. reinforced by the anti-semitic bigotry that you regurgitated the other day. Goodness knows what you think about disabled Israelis.”
by neilant
Friday, October 07 2011, 12:14AM
“John_Carlton.. Yawn.... is my initial reaction to any comments you make about anything.. But being as YOU`VE changed the topic just to throw an insult in, I,ll mention that your attitude towards disabled people & dumb animals shows exactly what sort of person you are..
Dont bother insulting me again, unless you just want other posters to read it.. I wont be wasting my time reading any of the brainwashed bigotry that you regurgitate..”
by John_Carlton
Thursday, October 06 2011, 7:17PM
“Blimey - old NeilAnt-i semite is in full flow tonight. Even the Nottingham City Labour administration would be up against the wall and shot under his red revolution.”
by theCLIFTONION
Thursday, October 06 2011, 6:44PM
“This Chistmas Tree story was broken by the excellent Nottingham blogger ncclols.blogspot.com in his blog of 21 September (go on, Google it). This blogger should not be missed by all Council-Tax-Paying Nottinghamians as he has the knack of lifting that corner of the carpet where much of the dirt has been swept by our Lords and Masters in the City Council in the hope that it will never see the light of day. I recommend it to everyone. Try it!!! You may not have been born cynical, but you may just become converted, once you've read what they get up to 'in your name' and with your money as revealed in this blog. All power to his elbow, I say.”
by neilant
Thursday, October 06 2011, 4:54PM
“paperface.. Thankyou for that.... This country (& nearly all councils nationwide) has been run & controlled by the Millionaire (or very wealthy) CLUB for their own benefit for far too long.. Money=Power=Money. etc.
Only time will tell us how much longer these parasites can get away it.. We,ll see..”
by paperface
Thursday, October 06 2011, 4:30PM
“neilant...I totally agree with you!!”
by neilant
Thursday, October 06 2011, 4:27PM
“paperface.. There,s no need to publish.. All the greed, extravagance, wastefulness, self-interest, selfishness, arrogance, & out of touch stupidity is coming to light more & more.. Not just locally, but nationally too....
The political parties & ruling classes are past their sell by date & should be replaced by a true & proper democracy!!.. Yes, a democracy..”