LABOUR mayoral candidate Vince Muspratt has been accused making "symbolic, empty gestures" on the major issue of devolving power to local area committees.

In the first exchanges of the election since all six candidates declared, the Green Party's Steve Rackett reacted strongly to his opponent's promise to give about £10,000 to the residents' groups.

Speaking on Thursday, March 28 Mr Rackett said his "realistic ambition" was to hand over in the region of £1 million to each committee.

Criticising Councillor Muspratt for "a complete lack of ambition", he compared the Labour politician to Tony Blair in setting meaningless targets "so low they are bound to be met".

The Green candidate said the ammout of money being given to area committees was a measure of the trust the mayor had in the residents, and how much they wanted to hoard power.

He said: "£10,000 to each area committee is just £60,000. That's a small committment and a small measure of trust.

"In fact, isn't £60,000 just the mayors salary, plus expenses?"

Area committees are part of the new political structures being set up under the mayoral project.They cover small sections of Watford, most just two wards.

The aim is to allow people to have more of a say over what happens in their immediate locality.

It is up to the £50,000 a year mayor, when elected in May, to decide how much power they have. The committes could therefore be little more than useless talking shops unless they are given the resources and freedom to take choices.

Councillor Muspratt said he intends to pass out control over street sweeping, rubbish collection, recycling, playgrounds, highway landscaping and decoration, and local design guidelines for planning.

Mr Rackett said unless the mayor was prepared to take bold steps, the entire project would fail leaving "business as usual at the town hall."

He dismissed the suggestion the Green Party could make grand promises because it would not win, saying the policies were realistic.

The Council budget for 2002/2003 is about £53 million. Councillor Musprat's promise amounts to 0.02 per cent to each committee.

Mr Rackett said: "I'm quite confident it should be possible to hit £1 million.

"It should be down to the area committees to decide what they want, not just whether they would like an extra street lamp or two road humps.

"The money he's talking about doesn't go along way and won't change much.

"With a million you could turn the whole areas into reduced traffic zones, children safe zones. You could cut pollution and have two rubbish collections. Real change would be possible."

March 28, 2002 18:30