A COUNCIL has defended a decision to spend more than half a million pounds on new computers, with critics saying the community has been "put on the backburner."

Richmondshire District Council has agreed to spend £671,000 on a new IT system, though opponents say £296,000 of that has so far not been budgeted for.

Opponents to the scheme, including Councillor Stuart Parsons of the Liberal Democrat Group, says that ordinary taxpayers are being penalised and "will see no benefit" from the investment.

He said: "The council has refused to allocate £4,000 to abolish the 9am watershed for pensioners bus fare concessions, which would have really been of benefit to people.

"And yet they see fit to spend more than half a million pounds on a new IT system.

"They are penalising the vulnerable just so the council can have new computers, and communities are being put on the backburner."

But Mick Griffiths, deputy leader of the majority Conservative council, said investment was desperately needed to bring the authority into the modern age.

"The council's IT system has been so neglected by previous administrations - including Coun Parsons' - that for the past six years it has failed to reach the high standards demanded by auditors.

"It is so old that in some areas we still have a card-index system, and if someone is sick and we have to get emergency workers in they cannot understand how it all works.

"We already offer a concession on the bus fares as the national watershed is 9.30am, and we have made it earlier.

"We will see many savings and efficiencies by converting to this modern system.

"Why have previous administrations allowed the situation to get so bad?

"Coun Parsons and others are happy to spend money on shiny, superficial things but they neglect the basics.

"This investment is desperately needed to bring the council into the modern age."