Thousands of council magazines destroyed rather than sent to residents

AN investigation has been launched after up to 9,000 copies of BCP Council’s magazine were sent directly to be recycled as waste rather than being delivered to homes.

The authority is looking into photos that were published showing thousands of its BCP News publications piled up to be thrown away, writes Josh Wright of the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A council spokesman admitted between 6,000 and 9,000 were sent by its distributor straight to the recycling centre.

The pictures prompted criticism from Conservative opposition councillors who said it was “unbelievable” they had not been sent to residents.

“The whole thing has been a bit of a debacle,” Cllr Philip Broadhead said. “You could maybe understand if a couple of hundred had not been delivered but not this many.

“There’s a perfectly reasonable argument for having a magazine and letting people know what the council is up to but that goes out the window if you are sending it straight for recycling.”

The new council publication is printed and distributed by Blackpool-based CIS Press after it agreed to a no-cost deal where it takes only advertising income.

Following the publication of the photos, the council said it was “extremely concerned” and launched an investigation.

Following meetings with CIS Press, a council spokesman said it had been a one-off issue.

“We are now satisfied that this is an isolated incident as a result of a misunderstanding between sub-contractors which led to between 6,000 and 9,000 copies of BCP News – from a print run of 183,000 – being recycled, instead of being delivered to homes,” he said.

“Having discussed the matter at length with our sub-contractors, including meeting face-to-face, we are satisfied that processes are being improved with all parties concerned, to mitigate against any reoccurrence.”

Anyone who has not received a copy of the autumn edition should email bcpnews@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.