Get Your Priorities Right!

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 3rd Oct 2002

Lib Dem plans to free up council reserves for immediate use on front line services have been halted following a decision by members of the Borough Council Executive Committee.

At last nights meeting, Lib Dem Cllrs tabled a proposal which sought to free up over £500,000 in addition to £1,000,000 already highlighted for the homelessness situation. However, due to a lack of support from any of the other groups, the proposals have been thrown out.

"I am very disappointed by the attitude of some groups on this council. Time and again we have put proposals to the executive asking for these reserves to be released, but every time they make any excuse to hold onto the money in reserves. We set out proposals that would have freed money from reserves to provide funding for children's play areas, more CCTV and improvements to Neighbourhood shops. It amazed me that they wouldn't even reduce funds set aside for unidentified Ceremonial events! Its high time this council realised what its priorities should be. Holding money in the bank, just in case, or working to improve services for the people of the borough here and now!"

Lib Dem Deputy group leader, Christine McHugh further commented:

" Local Tax payers have been hit by a double whammy. Council Tax payers money helps fund these reserves. We proposed freeing just a part of these reserves and using most of the money for frontline services and returning the rest to council tax payers through a borough wide freeze on council tax. Through the actions of the Tories and Labour, council tax payers could now see their taxes increased again without any improvements in frontline services."