Derby City Council agreed a 2.5 per cent Council Tax increase last night (Monday) – after rejecting a swathe of proposals to ease the burden on struggling residents.
The level of the rise was agreed by all parties but councillors were presented with two budgets – one by the ruling Liberal Democrat group and one by the Labour opposition.
Both budgets were balanced over three years after being costed by council accountants – but Labour’s plans included numerous additional proposals to help the needy.
A reduction in the cost of school meals, free home care for the elderly and disabled, training opportunities for young people and the reopening of all Derby’s public toilets were among the Labour proposals rejected.
Tory leader Harvey Jennings branded the Lib Dems “incompetent” and refused to vote for the Labour plans – yet his party failed to make a single proposal on the city’s budget and then opted not to vote on this important issue.
It was disappointing that the Lib Dems wouldn’t even consider many of our proposals aimed at helping those most in need.
But I was even more alarmed by the Conservatives’ failure to make a single positive contribution to the budget debate.
It’s easy to throw mud but proper opposition is about presenting alternatives, looking at different ways of doing things and offering a fresh view.
Just like last year, it’s the residents of Derby who will lose out thanks to a Lib Dem cabinet lacking leadership and a Conservative opposition who are either unwilling or unable to come up with any policies of their own.
Monday 1 March 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
