SWINDON Council bosses have been labelled fat cats after announcing plans to appoint another senior councillor.

The move will cost more than £5,000 a year and comes as the council prepares to make £10m of cuts.

The appointment of a lead member for community and partnership will take the ruling cabinet to ten members the maximum allowed under law and has sparked criticism from Labour and Lib Dem councillors.

But the Conservatives say they will do anything necessary to improve the performance of the council and that this area has been identified as a weekness.

Coun Andy Harrison, (Lab, Penhill), Labour spokesman for council finances, said: "This is quite incredible. At a time when everybody in the council is being told to tighten their belts and fear the worst from the impending Tory budget, cabinet fat cats want more of the cream!

"The report fails to explain the need for this additional post, raising suspicion about the effectiveness of the position and the motivation behind its creation. It seems that the Tories are preaching efficiency with one face and inflating bureaucracy with another."

And Labour leader Coun David Nash, (Lab, Central) added: "I wonder what colleagues in the voluntary and community sector would rather have, a new cabinet member or secured resources for 2006?"

And the Lib Dems were also unhappy with the move, which will go before full council on Thursday for approval.

Coun Mike Evemy, Lib Dem finance spokesperson (Eastcott), said: "This is evidence that the Tories have been found wanting in their commitment to the community. Their commitment will become obvious to everyone next month when their budget is expected to make £252,000 cuts to the voluntary sector in Swindon.

"This new cabinet member is being brought in to front those cuts and the damage they will do to our communities in Swindon."

But council leader Mike Bawden hit back at the criticism, particularly from the Labour group.

"I find it mind-boggling that they will criticise this when they had 10 cabinet appointments when they were in power and their Government has identified the importance of addressing these issues," he said.

He said that the Government wanted the council to establish more positive relationships with community groups and other organisations.

"We are quite determined to move up the batting order and we will do whatever is necessary to improve the performance of Swindon Council," he added.

The new post will cover issues relating to community and partnership, identified as needing strengthening in a Government inspection of the council, but full details of the portfolio have not yet been announced.

It is understood the Coun Andrew Bennett (Con, Ridgeway) will take the post.

Isabel Field