Council Budget 'cover Up' Exposed (Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats)

Canterbury & Whitstable Liberal Democrats <info@cantlibdem.org.uk>

Council Budget 'cover Up' Exposed

December 11, 2009 2:11 PM

The Council appear to have deliberately misled the public over the extent of cuts in local services needed to balance the books. A Government grant INCREASE this year means there is actually no need for museums and toilets to close.

Real figures 'withheld'.

Liberal Democrat councillors on Canterbury City Council have blown the whistle over Tory claims that a reduction in funding from central government has led to plans to close museums & public toilets, and start charging for recycling sacks.

In fact the government grant to Canterbury City Council has gone up by 2%, well ahead of inflation. This means that the council has far more money to spend this year than it has admitted - and many of the drastic cuts the Conservatives are threatening are simply not needed.

"We now know that the council were told the true level of the government grant not long after the so-called 'budget consultation' began. But they have sat on the figures and continue to tell local people that immediate cuts are unavoidable. It's incredibly dishonest", said Lib Dem leader Cllr Alex Perkins. "They are STILL telling people 'WE EXPECT OUR ANNUAL BUDGET FUNDING GRANT TO BE FROZEN OR REDUCED' when they know that's just NOT true. In reality the only significant pressure on the budget has been caused by them continually increasing parking charges, even when demand for parking spaces is falling. That policy has driven shoppers away from the city to shop at Bluewater and Westwood Cross where there is free parking.

"It's time for everyone involved in this sorry process to come clean and admit that there is enough money this year to pay for practically everything that local people value - such as museums, public loos and recycling. "