‘Cautious and level-headed’

GARETH DADD said the county council was “not risking millions and millions like other authorities, which are buying shopping centres”.

He said: “We are taking a cautious, level-headed, reasonable approach to this and any extra funds goes into support services, especially for vulnerable people, and that’s why we’re keen to pursue it.”

The Conservative councillor added that the authority had a better chance of getting a variety of work done than many if not all other councils because it was the firms’ shareholders, so they had to perform for the authority.