A ‘SWEETENER’ of up to £40,000 of taxpayers’ money to attract a leading European company to set up a factory with over 40 jobs has been branded a “bribe”.

Dutch concrete products firm Kijlstra Ltd expects to start operating from the former Tarmac site in Henlade by early to mid February with a financial incentive from Taunton Deane Council.

The authority believes paying up to £1,000 per job created – to a maximum of £40,000 – will have positive knock-on effects and boost the local economy.

But TaxPayers’ Alliance director John O’Connell said: “It's totally understandable that the council would want large firms moving into the area, but the right response is to create favourable business conditions for all firms.

“That means lowering business rates, re-focussing spending on crucial infrastructure, and encouraging local colleges and schools to make sure young people in the area are leaving with the right skills.

“Large bribes are not the answer.”

The Deane’s economic development portfolio holder Cllr Norman Cavill said enticing firms to local areas was commonplace in Europe.

“It’s Taunton or elsewhere,” he said. “It’s a question of what we have to offer.

“One of the things we’re prepared to give is an incentive to help them fund employment in this area to assist them in training employees.

“It’s not just that company that benefits – there are all the services the company acquires locally, which can generate more employment and the salaries within the company help create prosperity locally.

“We’re showing willing to an investor in the area that we’re keen to support them.”

A Kijlstra spokeswoman said the firm, which will produce manholes, drawpits, combined sewer overflows and panel systems, is spending £5million on a refit of the 29-acre Henlade site.

She said the company, whose UK HQ is in Warwickshire, would hire 15 staff by March and 45 by the end of the year.

Asked about the council funding, she added: “It is not our place to comment on the council’s strategy and business initiatives for attracting companies to the area.”

Independent Deane councillor Ian Morrell welcomed the new jobs, but added: “The council’s significant financial contribution to profitable large companies while ignoring town centre vitality has to be questioned.

“Also, when the award is paid it needs refinement – after 12 or 24 months of continuous employment and local economic benefit would be appropriate and not near-on immediately.”