ANGRY Liberal Democrats at Warrington have accused the new controlling Labour group on the borough council of “hypocrisy” over claims that the Town Hall was left in a financial mess after the May elections.
Liberal Democrat leader Ian Marks (pictured) said Labour was in danger of squandering a rich inheritance left by the former Lib 
Dem-Conservative administration.
The row flared following comments made by Labour deputy leader Mike Hannon in response to criticism of Labour by the unions Unison and GMB.
Union bosses said Labour was breaking pre-election promises and attacking council employees’ terms and conditions.
Cllr Hannon refuted the union criticism and claimed the problems because of “the mess” the Lib Dems and Tories had left the Town Hall in.
Cllr Marks said: “They are fine ones to talk. It is widely accepted by the public that it was the last Labour Government that left the country in a massive financial mess.
“Whoever won the General Election would have been forced to make massive savings to get the country back on its feet. But there are still parts of Labour who are in denial of this.
“Local Government has had to take its fair share of these necessary savings.
“Here in Warrington we are very proud of the fact that we left the council in a sound financial state.
“Apart from 2010-11, when there were special circumstances and book-keeping adjustments, we balanced the books each year we were in power.
“By starting the transformation of the council several years ago with efficiency savings and being willing to take tough decisions, our cuts in front-line services and job losses this year were smaller than in most surrounding authorities.
“We managed to achieve this by an excellent working relationship with the staff and unions. Labour is in danger of squandering this inheritance through confrontation and confusion.”
Anger flares over financial mess claim
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
8 Comments
I do hopr that the Lib Dem leader and his deputy are watching their blood pressure they do seem to be getting very angry these days. Surely they should be relaxing and chilling out after all they must be due a holiday.
You’re all as bad as one another Geoff. Bickering while cutting front line services, increasing executive pay way above the rate of inflation and trying to ignore each new fiasco associated with the planning department. You’re all responsible.
As a WBC employee who is working hard to make the Council a more efficient and cost effective organisation, I find cheap comments made by Councillors in this forum difficult to stomach. The Council finances are not in a ‘mess’ but we do face financial challenges and very professional staff are working very hard to resolve them in partnership with Councillors of all persuasions. Maybe if Councillors were as honest and transparent as they claim they would like to be instead of playing childish political games we could get on with the job together.
Is the Council Finances in a mess? Councillor Hannon has got to support his comments with facts. I agree that, until the new Labour Administration gets to grips with Executives pay rises way above inflation, the destruction of Planning Records and the selling off of the family silver, we have to reserve judgement. Time is ticking! It is interesting to learn a finacial mess called “financial challenges”. This is a new one. For the residents of this Town they both mean the same and have just got to be sorted.
I’m not sure if I agree with your critique as I was only giving the pair some healthy advice but I am a GMB member and they have given me good advice in the past. The budget we inherited was handed over to us to take charge of. I will of course be scrutinising as much as I can do in all of the areas you highlight. Having faced what everyone is now going through now several times at Vertex, i have seen the impact on my colleagues. I have been a councillor for the last 14 months but during that time I have worked with many exceptional people and I can assure you that I have their interest at heart. Whether I can influence decisions is another matter.
I think the people of Warrington are sick of the council Geoff for all of the reasons I mention. Some of you need to put a stop to this sniping, deal with the planning department once and for all and stop giving executives huge pay rises while cutting front line services and trying to sell off or give away all of the town’s parks. And if you could collect the bins and clear the roads at the first hint of snow this winter, that would be an unexpected bonus.
They must be in a financial mess, they want us to work at the Pyramid for nothing, doing jobs they used to pay people to do. Nice to see that WBC are carrying out the Governments policies. Volunteers shouldn’t be used to replace payed staff. You are a disgrace to the Labour party.
Hopefully the people of the town who want to volunteer will chose to do so for a charity.
Yet more Marks blither! He is also supposed to be on a long holiday – nice to see he is in touch with Warrington, unless his able deputy dawg Bob Barr is putting out statements in his name?