THE first stage of East Hampshire District Council leader Ferris Cowper's vision of running the council as a money-making business was due to go under the microscope on Wednesday night. Members of the Tory leader's Cabinet were being asked to support the launch of several income generating projects and support moves to employ a special team of staff at a cost of just over £220,000. In a report which was to go before the cabinet, chief executive Will Godfrey recommended councillors to agree the release of funds to employ a business development officer. He said the cost of the post was likely to be around £40,000 and the future funding would be included in the baseline budget next year. Mr Godfrey was also set to ask councillors to support a bid for the setting up of an income generation team at a projected cost of £182,000. The income generation project has been born out of Mr Cowper's ambition to make EHDC the most innovative and creative local authority in Britain and to raise money from business ventures rather than constant tax rises. The council has already promised to freeze tax for three years and Mr Cowper plans to pay for it by making the council generate cash from services. Mr Godfrey said the initial target had been to raise £150,000 this year. "We believe additional income of £200,000 can be secured this financial year which is £50,000 above the target set. "For 2008 to 2009 and beyond, if the bid for the creation of an income generation team is agreed it is estimated that £1m could be generated by 2010 -2011." But he warned: "There are inevitably significant costs attached to securing this income and a number of risks attached to this which need to be fully understood."
