Liberal Democrats oppose Conservative budget

At the County Council meeting today, the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council opposed the 2006/07 budget proposed by the Conservative administration.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council, Councillor Hazel Watson said: "I welcome the single figure increase in the Council Tax. That is good news for pensioners and for those on fixed incomes. I wish to make it clear that I would not support a higher Council Tax than that proposed. Apart from the level of Council Tax increase there are a few other aspects of the budget that I welcome. Firstly the proposal to provide support for more adults in need of social care which, if implemented, will help to improve the County Council's unenviable status as one of the worst performing authorities in terms of numbers of people helped."

"I also welcome the belated investment in recycling and improvements in the Civic Amenity sites that should help to improve the poor recycling rates in the County. However, apart from these aspects, I oppose the administration's flawed budget because its content does not reflect the wishes of Surrey residents nor tackles the Council's problems."

"As usual, this administration is whingeing about the Government and the lack of funding provided. However, I believe that the truth is that the administration has brought its financial problems upon itself. It is about time that the administration took responsibility for not acting sooner in carrying out a thorough financial review as I have requested repeatedly for several years."

"Unfortunately the review carried out has failed to make savings where required and instead has proposed cuts in frontline services. This has happened because the consultants were told by the Executive to achieve CPA excellence for the County rather than do what Surrey residents actually want."

"Many of the timescales for the savings are completely unrealistic and unachievable, which will reduce the level of savings obtainable next financial year. The officers have advised that many of the proposed savings are so high risk that they recommend setting aside several million pounds in case they are not achieved. This money would be better used to improve services and to pursue more realistic savings."

"I oppose the proposed cuts in frontline services including closing youth centres and libraries, cutting bus services and reducing funding for the voluntary sector. These and other cuts in services would not be necessary if the administration had made more appropriate savings sooner and had stopped the Council wasting money. The County Council could have acted sooner to ensure that its major contracts including for road maintenance and special needs transport were providing good value for money."

"The bill for agency costs amounting to £15 million could be reduced by implementing recruitment and retention policies to enable the Council to employ staff itself rather than to pay high agency rates. Unfortunately the key worker housing schemes announced by the Council a couple of years ago have never been implemented. Providing more special needs places in Surrey would have reduced the Council's high level of spending on high cost out-County placements and on special needs transport the latter of which is expected to increase by £2.5 million."

"Money is being wasted on high cost energy bills because the Council's buildings are not energy efficient. With energy costs increasing by 40% that means an increase of £2million next year. The Council also regularly wastes money on producing large glossy publications that few people want or actually read."

"I think that it is a great shame that this budget does not do enough to save money where required. It does not do enough to improve the condition of the roads and footways, nor to provide enough activities or facilities for young people or to sustain the voluntary sector upon which many Surrey residents depend. For these reasons I shall vote against the administration's budget."