Reform UK's claim it had saved millions of pounds at county council found to be inaccurate and misleading

BUT ADMINISTRATION DESCRIBES IT AS A 'TECHNICALITY' AND 'SPLITTING HAIRS'

- By EDDIE BISKNELL Local democracy reporter

A REFORM UK Facebook post claiming it had "saved millions of pounds" at Derbyshire County Council was inaccurate and misleading, the authority itself has now proven.

In August, the national Reform UK Facebook page lauded praise on its Derbyshire County Council administration for savings it claimed were made in its first 100 days in office.

It claimed: “Today marks 100 days since Reform UK won the local elections. Since then, Derbyshire County Council saved millions of pounds by delaying a pay strategy review for two years.”

This post - displayed alongside an image of council leader Cllr Alan Graves and highways cabinet member Cllr Charlotte Hill - attracted 4,500 reactions, including 4,100 likes, 317 love hearts, eight angry faces, two crying faces, one caring reaction and one “wow” reaction, along with 1,800 comments and 138 shares.

However, a freedom of information request filed to the council by the Local Democracy Reporting Service now proves this claim was misleading and inaccurate.

Reform’s Derbyshire administration strenuously denies this, describing it as a “technicality” and “splitting hairs”.

Opposition leadership has badged the issue as a “desperate” “made-up” claim.

The council says in its heavily delayed response which took three months to process - breaching the Freedom of Information Act 2000 - that no such money has been saved, the potential savings of a delay do not exist and the review remains ongoing indefinitely, not delayed.