COUNCILLORS have labelled the Government's Best Value scheme as a "waste of money" after a local authority agreed to spend £15,000 on consultants.
Members of Teesdale District Council have also warned of a public outcry over the authority's decision to fork out the money, which will be spent over three years.
Several councillors slammed the Best Value scheme, which aims to make local authorities more efficient, at a full meeting in Barnard Castle.
Council officers informed members that they would need to spend £15,000 to carry out a number of user satisfaction surveys.
Local authorities are required to submit the surveys to the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and the Audit Commission, as part of Best Value.
The surveys will be carried out by independent consultants who will then be able to provide performance indicators for the DETR and the Audit Commission.
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