Nantwich councillors have called on Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer to scrap plans for a £22,000-a-year Youth Ambassador.
They believe the duties could be carried out for free, saving local taxpayers thousands.
But Mr Dwyer (pictured) has defended his plans for the new paid post, which has attracted more than 70 applications.
The decision to employ someone in the role has sparked criticism after it emerged Staffordshire Police are filling a similar vacancy in a voluntary, non-paid role.
Nantwich Independent Cllr Arthur Moran questioned the value of the £22,000 post.
“I’m not going to decry the work a Youth Commissioner would do, but this would be part of the PCC’s job,” said Cllr Moran at Nantwich Town Council meeting last night (May 12).
“So my view would be that he should therefore fund it out of his own salary, not by having an extra cost which could be spent on direct policing.”
Cllr Stuart Hutton backed the objection, and said a voluntary scheme similar to the Staffordshire Police Youth Panel could fulfil the role just as well at no cost.
But Mr Dwyer, a former Crewe & Nantwich Borough councillor, has defended the post.
He said: “Every Police and Crime Commissioner makes their decisions based on local needs and I feel I should not ask someone to work a 37-hour week which would include evenings and weekends as a volunteer.
“23% of Cheshire’s population is under 18 and I want to appoint someone with experience of working with young people to fulfill this important role.
“Part of the role is to engage with young people as victims, offenders and in helping to keep them safe and I understand that it is a different role from that in Staffordshire.”
He confirmed there have been 76 applications for the post and with a shortlist of six who will be interviewed on May 28.
I think that when Mr Dwyer says that “he makes his decisions based on local needs” he should have said “based on his assessment of local needs”, which is not the same thing. One wonders who he’s got lined up for this particular sinecure. He’s already appointed an army of staff of one sort or another. One wonders why. Is there any part of the PCC job that he can actually do himself?
When the PCC post was proposed there was no mention of the taxpayer also funding a Deputy PCC, nor Youth Ambassador. If the PCC alone can’t undertake the duties he was elected to do he should pay for any assistance himself – or resign. The PCC suddenly has made a Department from one post!