COUNCIL tax payers should decide if social workers and engineers should be sent from Hampshire to Sri Lanka to help with the tsunami relief work.

Hampshire County Council's Tory leader Ken Thornber says he will axe a planned £100,000 project if there is a "fairly significant number of objections" from local people.

The local authority has earmarked the cash from reserves to fund trips by staff who volunteer to help with relief work in the Hambantota region devastated by the Boxing Day disaster.

Ian Houtl, county emergency planner, left on Wednesday this week on an eight-day fact-finding trip, costing about £1,000. He flew economy class.

The idea is for other council workers to follow once the need for help has been assessed after meetings with the Prime Minister and local officials.

Hampshire has been asked to go to Hambantota by the Local Government International Bureau which is co-ordinating council offers of help.

Mr Hoult said: "We have a team of front line professionals, from child care workers to engineers, to assist as soon as we know what support is needed.

"We understand that the immediate crisis is over and that temporary shelter, food, water and essential transport are now available.

"Sri Lanka is now moving into a phase of reconstruction and is looking for advice on how to plan and implement the reconstruction programme."

Asked if it was an appropriate use of council tax payers' money, Cllr Thornber said: "I would be happy to hear from the people of Hampshire if they want us to do this or not.

"If they don't want us to spend £100,000 on this, then we won't. They should e-mail, write or telephone me."

He added: "The generous people of this country raised £300m and my feeling is they will say they should go as it hasn't increased council tax. But if a significant number object, then they won't go."

However, there may be objections to Hampshire's child care workers going as concerns were raised last year about services for vulnerable children.

Government inspectors found staff shortages meant less than half the children referred to social services were assessed within the target time in 2003/04. Targets are now being met, but there are still unfilled posts.

But Cllr Thornber said: "I don't think children would be put at risk here.

"The social workers would have their case load reduced and we would bring in contract staff to cover their absense.

"It would cost a little more but the children would not suffer. We would not select social workers if it would put at risk any child we were dealing with."

Rosemary Conway, chairman of Winchester Council Taxpayers' Action Group, said: "We all live in the same world and I would not want to be so hard-hearted as to turn my back on people who are in trouble.

"But it is an expense which I think local people should be consulted about."

Last year the authority hit the headlines when one of its social services chiefs flew first class to New Zealand with Cllr Felicity Hindson on a fact-finding mission.

Controversy surrounded the visit when it was revealed Cllr Hindson had extended her stay to take a holiday out there.

She paid back the difference between an economy air ticket and the first class ticket which had been purchased for her by the council.

* Contact Ken Thornber regarding the Tsunami assistance, at: Hampshire County Council, The Castle, Winchester SO 23 8LJ, or call 01962 847750, fax 01962 845969, or e-mail ken.thornber@hants.gov.uk.