SURREY County Council has been blasted for spending almost £67m on properties outside of the county while “pleading poverty”.

Councillor Hazel Watson, leader of the Liberal Democrats, grilled Conservative councillor and cabinet member for business services Denise Le Gal at Surrey’s Cabinet meeting on Tuesday on how many properties the council had purchased since 2013.

Cllr Le Gal, in her written reply, listed six properties bought through council-owned Halsey Garton Property, the first in November, 2015 and the following five between April and July this year.

Of the six, four properties are warehouses in Wiltshire, Bristol, Nottinghamshire and Salford, with the remaining two listed as retail and office spaces in Worcestershire and Bristol.

Nearly £20m was spent in June on Park Gate in Bristol, one of phone company EE’s bases.

Cllr Watson hit out at the figures, claiming the money would be better invested in the Surrey instead.

She said: “Buying a warehouse in Wiltshire, or an office block in Bristol does not boost the economy of Surrey.

“Urgent investment is needed here in Surrey in a number of areas, such as key worker housing which will have the effect of reducing the council’s reliance on costly agency staff. Council buildings could become more energy efficient, which can lead to substantial savings from energy bills.

“The Conservative administration at County Hall is pleading poverty and cutting services while spending money on warehouses miles away from Surrey.

“Residents deserve better instead of money being frittered outside of Surrey.”

Cllr Le Gal said the expected net income of £1.2m per annum from the properties “means that we do not have to find the equivalent savings from services to residents”.