Response to the proposed Spelthorne budget by Colin Strong, Leader of the Opposition

9.45.26pm GMT Wed 28th Feb 2007

Cllr Colin Strong

Speech by Councillor Colin Strong, Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition in response to the Budget proposed for 2007/08

Mr Deputy Mayor,

I have pleasure in responding to the Leader's speech formally moving the motion to set the Council Tax for the year 2007/2008.

But firstly I would like to briefly comment on the past year.

The early part of 2006 was dominated by the Day Centre and Spelride issue. Despite overwhelming opposition from residents and Liberal Democrats the Conservative group voted to close the Benwell and Stanwell Day Centres.

Both Benwell and Stanwell were finally closed in December 2006 and now the centres lie empty while the users now travel to the much smaller temporary centres.

Questions are rightly being asked why the Benwell and Stanwell centres were not kept open for longer given that no planning applications have been submitted for either site.

Cuts to Spelride have also taken their toll. A number of older residents have been refused requests to use Spelride as there is insufficient capacity. No doubt such residents will express themselves via the ballot box.

Waste and recycling has been a live issue for some years. With household recycling rates at 18% Spelthorne has a poor track record.

The new alternate weekly collection system to be introduced in Autumn 2007 will see the start of the concerted push to reach recycling rates of 40% and upwards.

The Liberal Democrat group fully supports the new collection system. It has been tried and tested by over 100 local authorities. The roll out phase will be crucial and we have continually said that customer care is vital. The group is pleased to see that this has been taken on board.

Turning now to the proposals as shown in the green book.

New Labour has, yet again, threatened to cap any authority that increases their element of the Council Tax by more than 5%.

In the new Medium Term Financial Strategy (Appendix A in the green book) the Conservative Executive has approved "To set a council tax increase at the maximum increase allowed by central government."

It is noted that the Conservatives are not following their own agreed strategy having proposed an increase of 3.95%

Perhaps the Medium Term Financial Strategy should say "We agree to this strategy except in an election year."

Once again we are faced with proposals that are flawed and will be opposed by the Liberal Democrat group.

The Conservatives like to portray themselves as prudent managers of the Council's purse.

But time and again we are given examples of poor financial management. I shall give just three examples.

Firstly, the introduction of car parking charges at the Ashford multi-storey car park and in two of our leisure parks was originally budgeted for the year 2005/2006 to bring in an income of £475,000.

The projected outturn for the current financial year for these three sources is an income of just £56,000. This is a massive 90% reduction in expected income.

Secondly, it was recently reported to committee that a company paid £90,000 for backdated car parking charges relating to the period 1996 to 2001. The period to 2006 is now under discussion. How many other unpaid invoices are there?

Thirdly, the Executive continues to rationalise our assets - otherwise known as the great Conservative sell-off.

Over the years a number of important assets valuable to our local residents have been sold.

Spelthorne Grove Hall, the Old Town Hall in Staines and the lease on land at Kempton Park have all been sold to cover the large hole in our finances.

To these can now be added the Day Centre sites and most recently Bridge Street Car park.

The Mayor himself has expressed concern at the latest move.

Overall we are now seeing the effects of years of Conservative poor financial management. Services have been cut, community buildings are sold and residents voice their dismay.

In conclusion the budget is bad for Spelthorne residents and we shall oppose the motion.