Tories put off cuts until after the election claim Wychavon Liberal Democrats

12.06.00am GMT Mon 22nd Feb 2010

Wychavon Liberal Democrat Group will present their alternative Budget proposals at the Council meeting in Pershore on Tuesday, February 23rd.

Margaret Rowley, Lib Dem Group Leader said "It is very clear, whoever wins the general election, that 2011/12 could see a large reduction in government grant to councils - possibly as much as 20%. It is therefore very important that the 2010/11 budget does everything possible to prepare the council for the austerity to come.

We believe the Conservative budget is financially irresponsible, because it leaves all the belt-tightening until next year. The Liberal Democrat group proposes to raise further income and make additional savings this year, to provide a cushion for hard years ahead."

The Liberal Democrats propose to raise a further £120,000 of income/savings by reducing councillors allowances to their 2007/08 level and making councillors and staff pay for car parking in exactly the same way as members of the public. (Both get limited free parking at the moment.) £30,000 of this would be used to increase the grant to the CAB to £90,000 over two years and the remaining £90,000 would go to reduce the budget deficit. This would be recurring income, so would continue in future years.

£120,000 is equal to about £2.50 of Council Tax on a Band D property, so the Lib Dem proposals - if adopted by the council - would offset this amount of increase every year from 2010/11.

Margaret Rowley added "We feel the Conservative's cut in grant to the CAB is cruel and threatens to hit those in greatest need. So we would use £30,000 of the savings / additional income to increase the CAB grant to £90,000 over two years."

The Lib-Dem proposal has many benefits

By increasing income, future council tax increases will be reduced.

The burden will be borne by councillors and staff of the council, with no impact on the vast majority of Wychavon residents.

It will encourage changes in modes of transport to the council, e.g. car sharing, walking and cycling and significantly reduce the council's carbon footprint.

It will increase the amount of car parking available for visitors to Pershore.