TAXPAYERS have shelled out almost £50,000 for new laptop computers for Stroud district councillors.

All 51 members have been supplied with new Dell D810s - which cost £886 each and replace computers issued just five years ago.

Some councillors say SDC is failing to co-operate with other local authorities which also issue laptops to members.

For example, because he is both a district and a Gloucestershire county councillor, Dennis Andrewartha now owns two computers - both courtesy of the taxpayer.

He also has his own computer, and considers the council-issued equipment surplus to requirement.

"It's a shambles," said Cllr Andrewartha, a Lib Dem district councillor for Cam West.

"There should be some sensible co-operation between local authorities." Even SDC's own leader is concerned.

Cllr Chas Fellows, (Con, Chalford), is also a county councillor, and is in the same situation.

Though he finds the computers useful, he is disappointed the two authorities have not worked together to save taxpayers' money.

"It would have made a lot more sense, cut the cost and left my office a lot less cluttered," he said.

However, Cllr Fellows insisted the new laptops are needed at SDC. "The old computers had run out of warranty and it was very expensive to cover repair costs," he said.

"Also, the new ones are more secure and can log-on to the Stroud hub which could previously only be accessed through the standing machines at Ebley Mill.

"But I am disappointed that the county council and the district council can't get together and put everything I need on one laptop, especially with so much talk about partnership."

Nigel Rigglar, SDC's director of communications, said: "There's an ongoing replacement programme for members' laptops and that has been financially planned for within the communications strategy, so we have known about this for some time."

He declined to comment on the effectiveness of communications between SDC and the county councils.

Cllr Dennis Andrewartha's desk is a marvel of modern technology, with no less than three computers.

He is bewildered by his state-of-the-art collection, which includes:

* A computer from the district council complete with broadband and printer.

* A computer from the county council complete with broadband, a printer and scanner

* A photocopier from the county council

* His own personal computer

He said: "I find it very cumbersome. I bought my computer on the logical understanding that I could do away with most of the local authority stuff, reducing the burden on the taxpayer.

"But the two councils have said I can't have all the information I need on one computer.

"In the 21st Century that seems to me to be bureaucratic nonsense. "They want their heads banging together."