THE LEADER of Eden Council has been quizzed about the authority’s contract with Russian energy giant Gazprom.

It was revealed earlier this month that Eden District Council pays a monthly fee to the Russian state-backed firm to heat the Town Hall and Mansion House in Penrith.

A spokesperson for the council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, they would end the contract at the earliest opportunity.

But at a meeting of the full council this week, a member of Penrith Town Council called on the leadership to “send a clear message” against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

Jonathan Davies, of the Putting Cumbria First Party, said: “Eden Council is currently heating the Town Hall and Mansion House using Gazprom for its gas to do so, the horrific terror unleashed on citizens of Ukraine by Russia needs a clear message sending with immediate actions.

 

“Not ‘endeavours’ to do things at some point just so Eden District Council can remain warm and snug in the Town Hall and Mansion House while paying public money to Gazprom.

READ MORE: Council looks to drop Gazprom as supplier in light of Russian aggression

“On behalf of the people of Eden, will the leader and this council, immediately terminate this contract with Gazprom and send a clear message that Eden stands with Ukraine and will not fund, by the back door, the Russian economy and its acts of war and terror.”

Leader of the council, Virginia Taylor said: “This council is one of a number of local authorities that receives energy services through contracts with Russian controlled company Gazprom, it’s publicly recorded that the company supplies gas for the council’s municipal buildings.

“The contracts were procured through a third party framework and were put in place at a time when the council’s main duty was to obtain financial best value, clearly this is no longer the case and we are looking at ways we can switch supplier at the earliest opportunity.”

Councillor Taylor said that the council “utterly condemns” the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

READ MORE: Speeding headteacher spared driving ban