MORE than £13,000 of taxpayers’ cash has been spent on ‘spin’ media training for councillors and staff.

The four councils that serve south Buckinghamshire spent £13,047.64 on media training from consultants since 2007. All have complained of being short of cash.

TaxPayers’ Alliance spokesman Emma Boon said: “Taxpayers will be fuming that so much has been spent on media training.

“They want that money to be spent on better local services, not on spinning master-classes so they council can make itself look good.”

Buckinghamshire County Council gave firm Zamala £8,337.74, including £3,148 on one session for five people.

Its guidance includes urging staff and councillors to “look ‘normal’” and to ‘decline invitations to discuss anything that does not help your bottom line’.

It urges people to ‘do more than rephrase and reiterate your previously well-defined statement’ if asked a hypothetical question.

It urges them to be ‘pro-active’ when asked questions such as whether they should consider their own position.

It states: “Do no necessarily start from the question.” The guidance says to sit up straight and to carry a deodorant and a spare shirt or blouse.

Wycombe District Council spent £2.084.90 with two firms.

Guidance includes telling councillors not to ‘express a view that is your personal opinion as though it were the view of the council’.

Chiltern District Council paid £1,000 for one session for its cabinet. South Bucks District Council spent £1,625 for 17 staff.

County council deputy leader Councillor Bill Chapple said it helped councillors ‘carry out their roles efficiently and effectively’ and ‘manage controversial issues’.

Sue Robinson, spokesman for WDC, said: “It is appropriate that we give them the tools needed to help them communicate with the media confidently and effectively to get important messages out.”

A CDC statement said the ‘one off’ session was to give councillors ‘skills required to deal with media inquiries and interviews’.

Kate Murray, spokesman for SBDC, said the course was cheaper as the training firm came to its offices, instead of staff going on a course.

She said this ‘demonstrates our commitment to using our resources in the most cost effective way’.