Council portfolio holder for Finance answers Lib Dem criticism

Date published: 16/01/2006

Whilst I am not surprised, I am disappointed by the Liberal Democrat approach to the budget setting process.

Both Councillor Taylor and Councillor Watkins have been involved in the preparatory work and know that the proposals currently out for consultation are not just figures plucked from the air but the result of over forty value for money studies and benchmarking comparisons with other Local Authorities.

Rochdale MBC has to close an £8.2 million gap in order to have a balanced budget next year - this will not be achieved by finding an alternative supplier for the paper clips.

Tough and difficult decisions will have to be made (perhaps that is why the Liberal Democrats walked away from the coalition) which inevitably means that jobs will be lost and working practices have to change.

The Councils first responsibility is to the Council Taxpayer and secondly to its employees.

Turning now to the specific issues, I would advise that the details of the proposed £1 million saving in Adult care is currently being reviewed by a Project team under the leadership of Margaret Carney the Executive Director of Resources, for whom I have the highest regard, and only when the detailed savings and the timescales involved have been identified will it be possible to finalise the discussion.

I was not present (nor need I have been) at the Rochdale Township Committee to hear what Councillor Brett may or may not have said but my discussions with him since have not caused me to rethink this issue.

The other issue concerns a proposed saving of £60k at Touchstones. Approximately 80 thousand visits are made to Touchstones each year. Surprisingly only five thousand of them are on Sundays. For insurance purposes there are minimum staffing requirements and as the staff are still paid double time the cost per visit is four times more expensive than the average. I rest my case.

I am pleased to report that the Councils financial situation this financial year is better than it has been for some time and is currently heading for a modest underspend which can be carried forward and thereby ease, rather than add to, next years pressures.

The Conservative group have been committed to all party working and remain disappointed at the petty political squabbles which detract from the very real issues facing the Council. As Portfolio holder for Finance I look forward to hearing any sensible, sustainable proposals to bridge the chasm we face on a recurrent on-going basis.

Robert Clegg