Questions have been raised about the delivery of a Christmas gift guide, funded by tax-payers, after Staffordshire Moorlands residents have come forward to say they haven't received a copy.

The Moorlands Christmas Gift Guides cost a total of £17,000 to produce and deliver – and were paid for by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council (SMDC) using Welcome Back funding from central government.

The guides were supposed to have been delivered to every household in the Staffordshire Moorlands, but there are concerns this hasn't come to pass.

SMDC leader, Sybil Ralphs (Con) spoke about the brochures at a scrutiny panel in Leek on Thursday (26th January).

She said: "I've had nothing but congratulations and kind comments about it from people who received it and found it extremely useful.

"Various businesses and shops were contacted to ask if they'd like to participate and be included in this guide.

"Some absolutely jumped at the chance and there were a lot of businesses in Cheadle that were contained within the guide.

"Some didn't want to know – and I think they regretted it afterwards because it was a very, very useful guide and it was put out at the right time and people appreciated it."

However, Cllr Gary Bentley (Ind) said his experience suggested many people in Cheadle hadn't received a copy of the leaflet.

He said: "Not one person can actually tell me the they've had one delivered."

He added: "Nobody's seen the leaflet in Cheadle.

"It isn't your fault, but is is a concern isn't it? We've spent a lot of money – and after Christmas is no good."

Cllr Ralphs replied: "I'm very sorry, very disappointed, that you had that lack of delivery.

"But an awful lot of people did receive those leaflets and I did indeed have a couple of people from Cheadle phone me to say what a good idea it was."

She said some people may have mistaken it for advertising material.

"Sometimes when it's a busy time like Christmas and you have something like that through the post, some people tend to think 'no more advertising jargon' and they treat it as a circular.

"They treat it as unwanted mail and they put it in the waste paper baskets or in the bin.

"But I can't give you an explanation why some people in Cheadle didn't receive it. Everybody had a copy sent out to them."

Cllr Darren Price (Lab), who represents the Leek East ward, said residents and businesses he's spoken to did not receive the guide either.

A snap poll on his Facebook page attracted more than 100 responses from people who said they did not receive the guide.

He said: "Lots of people have said to me that they've never heard of it."

He added: "The idea's a great one to support local independent businesses.

"In my town of Leek we've got some fantastic small independent businesses with fantastic service and great products.

"And it's the same in Biddulph and Cheadle.

"They need a bit of a leg-up, and they need a bit of a hand, but when it [money for leaflet] doesn't go anywhere and nobody sees it then you wonder what it's been spent on."

Cllr Price said he was also disappointed not to have been informed about the leaflet while it was being produced.

He said: "All the businesses that are in the town centre are in my ward, and I was never asked about this or even informed it was happening.

"And I think that's not very good. When things go on in a councillor's ward you'd at least expect them to be involved.

"The first I heard about it was from a third party."

When the issue was raised again by Cllr Keith Hoptroff later in the same meeting, Cllr Ralphs said: "We used the company that we normally use, that have done the work for us before – and we used them again.

"I haven't any explanation for you Cllr Hoptroff as to why you didn't receive a copy of this guide.

"As I said to Cllr Bentley – many, many people did.

"I'm very sorry but I can't be responsible for the delivery of this. All I had is control over the content and the cost of it.

"I can't be held responsible for it, for the people who deliver it.

"They are a well-known, reputable company.

"I'm sorry, that's all I can say to you.

"The only other thing I would add is that the food guide is going out shortly – and let's see how many people receive that.

"And if you have evidence that it has been deliberately not delivered then I'm sure you will come forward and tell me about it."

Cllr Hoptroff said only one councillor (out of 22) present during the meeting at Moorlands House indicated they had received the leaflet and asked if the firm responsible was misleading the council about the delivery.

Cllr Ralphs promised to set up an enquiry.

She said: "We paid for it to be delivered and we expect it to be delivered."

Cllr Hoptroff responded by saying if the business failed to deliver the guides they ought to deliver the upcoming food guides at no charge.