Budget measures cobbled together on back of fag packet say Lib Dems

Date published: 23/02/2006

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Councillor Alan Taylor, has slammed Labour and the Conservatives for "cobbling together a budget in just under 10 minutes on the back of Cllr. Robert Clegg's fag packet" at last night's Rochdale council meeting.
 
Councillor Taylor said, "This is a huge year for the council; months of secret meetings between Labour and The Conservatives led to a panic 10 minute meeting between the two parties right at the eleventh hour.  I am happy that Liberal Democrat pressure led to cuts at Touchstones and Petrus being shelved.  I would like to see a clear commitment from the two parties that they won't target them again."
 
Councillor Taylor continued, "What confidence can anyone have in this new budget?  To adjourn the meeting two hours into it just to meet as a coalition is wrong, it just illustrates the gaps in this budget.  It was funny seeing them disagree slightly, the ugly sisters had a tiff but made up in minutes.  We have in this year's budget a massive council tax rise with massive rent increases.  This lot couldn't run a recycling bank,let alone a council."
 
The Council agreed to a council tax rise of 4.62% and a massive rent increase for council tenants of 5%.  The Liberal Democrats complained the increases are in addition to "major cuts to many frontline services." Moreover,  the Liberal Democrats were "cynically excluded from the budget process by the Labour/Conservative Coalition".
 
A Liberal Democrat Motion to postpone the budget for further consultation was rejected by the Coalition.  This led to Councillor Alan Taylor accusing the Council of adopting a "Pennine Acute Trust style of consultation."

Labour Cllr and council leader Allen Brett responding said:

"Cllr Taylor obviously lives in adifferent world to me. The amendment to restore the cuts to both Touchstones and Petrus were moved by two Labour Cllrs, Ian Robertson and Tommy Stott. The Liberals abstained and the Conservatives voted against.

"The Conservative motion was opposed by Labour, but because parts were acceptable then an amendment was proposed and accepted - again the Liberals abstained.

"It is no good the Liberals shouting in the media if they do not move things in the council. I suspect they wanted the cuts to go ahead so they could say how bad it is and make politial capital. They have taken no part in any consultation; they draw their allowances and turn up at the council hoping to create headlines.

"The lack of leadership since Cllr Paul Rowen stepped down mirrors the national party."