Cabinet Wed 13 Dec 17

Speaking on the Draft proposals for the Council’s Budget Cllr Ian Shires Cabinet member for Communities Culture and Leisure said:

“I want to welcome the Cabinet’s decision to remove the proposal to introduce a charge for Garden Waste removal following consultation and also the amendment to the 2017/18 capital programme in order to purchase eight CCTV cameras to support the enforcement action we take against fly tipping.

“I’d also like to make one or two further points on this agenda item in general.

“There is nothing in the budget setting process that is more guaranteed to animate the media and further wind up already sceptical residents – whilst at the same time raising the anxiety levels of us Councillors that we might be burned at the ballot box – than the size of council tax bills.

“The ongoing political and economic instability brought about by a Government whose sole focus currently is centred on its Brexit woes, leading to a glaring absence of any solution to local government funding is fueling our apprehension by the knowledge that the scale of the financial pressures being heaped on local councils means that some of the cost of this Government inaction will inevitably have to be passed onto already hard pressed households in order to prop up vital services.

“”It goes without saying that we are well aware of the growing financial challenges facing increasing numbers of residents.

“Evidence shows that more councils will this year be pushing council tax bills up to the maximum permitted without having to hold a costly referendum. Last year two thirds of councils opted for this option which included the 1.99% social care precept.

“It’s easy to see why the Government would opt for the precept method. It allows them to claim they are making additional funds available for social care whilst leaving us Councillors to soak up the hostility from our communities facing increased council tax bills thus deflecting any political fallout from the government for its failure to ensure the vulnerable are supported and protected. In other words we are being set up as the fall guys!”