TAXPAYERS are being misled about the cost of a post designed to ease a huge workload, City of York Council leader Dave Merrett said today.

Coun Merrett said a statement from Liberal Democrat leader Steve Galloway greatly exaggerated the cost of a personal assistant appointed to help Coun Merrett with administrative tasks.

Coun Galloway claimed the job would cost taxpayers £20,000 per year.

But the job agreed by councillors is only for a six-month period, and will cost £8,600.

Coun Merrett said: "Coun Galloway does seem to be deliberately misleading the public.

"This is a part-time, six-month post for 20 hours a week. What happens after those six months depends on a fresh decision to be made by councillors then."

Coun Merrett has the backing of York's Conservative leader, Coun John Galvin.

Coun Galvin said: "I would echo what Dave has said.

"I don't care what political persuasion the leader is, we have an authority with a turnover of more than £200 million a year and the leader should have some administrative support."

The personal assistant was originally intended to be full time and be shared by Coun Merrett and Coun Galloway.

It was altered to be only part-time after Coun Galloway pulled out of the arrangement.

Deborah Baxter, the council's support officer for the chief executive, said: "Most councils provide a level of officer support for their leading members and York has been unusual in not doing so.

"The main responsibilities of the PA would be to provide support to the leader as required in managing his diary, organising commitments, responding to and managing correspondence and paperwork, excluding all political matters, and obtaining supporting information and briefings to enable him to carry out his role.

"Inquiries, letters or complaints of a political nature would not be dealt with by the post-holder."

Coun Galloway explained that his estimated costing anticipated that councillors would vote to continue the post in May, and included overhead costs.

Updated: 15:52 Friday, November 22, 2002