Graham reports back from Friends of Scholes Park meeting
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by Lib Dem team on 28 February, 2019
Stockport Council’s budget passed at the second attempt, with a revised Liberal Democrat amendment being approved by the council.
The Lib Dem’s first amendment, which called for the free meal councillors get before Full Council meetings to be scrapped, was voted down by Labour last week. The meals cost taxpayers £11,000 a year – the Lib Dems believe councillors should not be having free meals paid for by the taxpayer at the same time as council tax is being increased yet again.
The Liberal Democrats moved a second budget amendment on Tuesday to protect and enhance the role of local communities in decision making by ensuring the current budgets for area committees are not scrapped. This was approved.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Mark Hunter, Opposition Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “We set out our stall last week that local democracy should be protected and enhanced. Our amendment tonight saw unanimous support and has ensured that each ward has £10,000 a year more for highways schemes and grants to local groups. These make a huge difference to local residents and, in line with a core Liberal Democrat principle, the decision making should remain with local people through their Area Committees.
“Unfortunately the meeting took a bizarre turn as the Conservative Group sought to gain support for a muddled, reckless and ill thought out amendment which would put the council’s future finances at risk. There were several parts which we would have supported but the whole was simply an inappropriate attempt to write their election leaflets, such as throwing away the contingency being put aside for the unknown impact of Brexit. Fortunately the other Groups saw through this and, rightly, all voted the Conservative proposals down.”
7 Comments
To be frank, Iain, I am not concerned about whether the Council saves or spends a few grand here or there. Not least when as reported today, one of the primary schools in Reddish is being forced to make staff redundant and to close on Friday afternoons to save money – and when the chair of the governors makes crass ,insensitive remarks that parents will welcome the closure as it’ll mean they can spend more time with their children (and the school intends to charge parents who cannot collect their children at lunchtime – does this idiot not appreciate that folk have jobs.)
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/feb/28/school-stockport-close-early-fridays-lack-funding
Indeed – John – everyone needs to do their bit. Schools are funded by central Government too.
Maybe those councillors that wanted the scrapping of free meals should refuse the free meal and just sit there and watch those that do eat theirs highlighting their feelings.
Iain – I ask again – why didn’t you scrap this meal allowance years ago. For 18 years you allowed this which makes me wonder how many more allowances are around. Freedom of information request may find some answers
As for contingency for ‘unknown impact of Brexit’ what on earth is this?
And as for council tax increases – living in Gatley I can recall all the eye-watering increases the LibDems imposed on the local ratepayers.
Hi Bruce – again I can tell you that we cut benefits for councillors alongside general cuts to the budget, and this is the last one that needs to go. The Brexit contigency is exactly what it says: we are potentially just days away from a no-deal Brexit, the government’s own analysis suggests any Brexit will cause all sorts of problems and councils are having to put money aside to deal with them.
What’s the total pc increase we will be forced to pay for this awful tax ?
Surprised I did not get an answer from the lib dems on what the CT increase was as it was decided on the 21st Feb.
Its 4.18% in total – here are the details – what a disgrace
The Council Meeting has:-(1) Approved the appropriate Council Tax resolutions as set out in Appendix One of the report for a 2.75% increase in the Council-controlled element of the tax, and when taking into account the Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner for Greater Manchester and Mayoral General Precept (including Fire Services) for Greater Manchester precepts, an increase of 4.18%.The Council therefore approved a Band D Council Tax of £1,916.90.