Basingstoke Tory budget condemned

The Lib Dem leader on Basingstoke and Deane borough council has condemned the Tories budget as not good enough for the town and borough.

Cllr Gavin James said "Under the Conservatives, residents face a council tax increase and further cuts to services with no indication of where the axe will fall. This can't all be blamed on Tory central government, much is down to the local Conservatives who have forgotten the purpose of the Council - To serve the people of the Borough. The five year delay to the Local Plan has cost the Council a fortune is lost planning appeals."

"The Conservative have failed to generate additional income. 10 years ago £8m a year came from the Councils financial investments; this has dropped to £2m. For too long the Conservatives did nothing whilst the opportunity afforded to it from the generous cash balance it inherited was allowed to sit idle. For all of those years the green investment proposal put forward by the Liberal Democrats was ignored. Had we spent £20m on green energy when 10% returns was realistic, we would be in a better position now, £1.75 million a year extra."

"This Council needs a change of culture. A culture where we make residents the heart of everything we do. Fortunately there is a party that has always been prepared to put people first. That party is the Liberal Democrats. Putting people first means:

• using the combined authority negotiations to secure a bus pass that gives discount travel for the under 21's and those in full time education
• Making a substantial investment in renewable energy - providing jobs, energy security, tackling climate change and a financial return
• Constructing Stepping Stone Housing - meeting the urgent housing need now, not in a decades time
• Introducing Success and failure targets for major projects - no more claiming a £2 million overspend on the Malls refurbishment is an achievement.
• Extending the shuttle bus - building passenger number by frequent, affordable, reliable services, that run in at evenings and weekends. We can cut pollution and congestion and make it easier for people to get around.
• Making the Manydown development a flagship for the UK rather than a Tory dash for cash. The priority for Manydown shouldn't be making money for the Council but investing in our community.
• Piloting a free green waste collection service - starting in Tadley as they face being charges to use the local tip and reviewing the garden waste collection service we provide so it reflects different lifestyles
• We must Identify future savings and consult on them, rather than setting a savings target and making it up as we go along, that's putting people first"

Liberal Democrats - Putting people first.

You can read the full text of Gavin's budget speech here