LOCAL councils have hit back at claims they are wasting millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money on “propaganda and spin doctors”.

A report compiled by the TaxPayers’ Alliance showed that both Dorset County Council and Bournemouth Borough Council are spending more than £2 million a year on publicity.

But both councils have denied accusations this is wasteful, claiming they have a duty to keep residents up to date with council projects and services.

They also point out that the amounts include the money they spend on job adverts, planning notices, tourism marketing and council newsletters.

The Borough of Poole’s figures are far lower at just £557,000 but it’s thought that this figure is purely the cost of running its communications team.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “In the middle of a recession, councils need to cut back on propaganda and spin doctors and deliver savings to taxpayers.”

But Sue Hyde, head of communications at Dorset County Council, said: “It is a great pity that the TaxPayers’ Alliance is portraying this work in such a negative light. “Communications officers work tirelessly to keep local people informed and in touch about council services.

“By keeping people informed through channels such as our website and council newspaper, we save people from having to make personal journeys or long telephone calls to council officers.

“We aim to tell people what they need to know before they have to ask – this saves money for both residents and the county council.”

And Cllr John Beesley, deputy leader of Bournemouth council, agreed: “We have a duty to inform residents and visitors about council services and how to access them as well as showing where their money is spent.

“Publicity spend includes a whole spectrum of essential communications to the public including our statutory duty to produce notices such as planning and recruitment advertising.

“In addition, much of the publicity spent in areas such as event marketing for the BIC and Pavilion is recouped through ticket sales.”

The report also sparked an angry response from the Local Government Association, whose spokesperson said: “To suggest that councils are employing armies of spin doctors and wasting money on publicity machines is absurd beyond belief.”