THE opposition Liberal Democrats on Warrington Borough Council have today revealed they are working on an alternative draft budget, which they say will be less high-risk than the one proposed by the ruling Labour Group.
Warrington Liberal Democrats say they are drafting a balanced alternative budget which softens some of the most damaging cuts proposed by the Labour administration. The group says it has done this because Labour has demanded that opposition councillors produce alternatives, while still refusing to share key financial information.
Group Leader Cllr Mark Browne said: “Over many years we have tried to work constructively with the Labour administration, even when the previous Conservative opposition made the council more defensive and less open. But what we are now uncovering is the true depth of mismanagement. We are being asked to help fix a black hole entirely created by Labour. Yesterday we learned that government had approved an extra 2.5% council tax rise. Labour wouldn’t even tell us how much they’d applied for.”
The Liberal Democrats have also confirmed that their draft budget will be submitted to the Section 151 Officer for validation. The formal budget-setting meeting takes place next month.
Alongside the draft budget, the group will bring forward a motion calling for strengthened scrutiny across the council. They argue that any committee responsible for reviewing Cabinet decisions must be chaired by a councillor outside the administration.
Deputy Leader Cllr Helen Speed added: “This isn’t a full alternative programme. We’re dealing with the consequences of Labour’s financial crisis. But we have produced a balanced budget that protects residents from some of the very worst of Labour’s cuts. What matters now is restoring proper scrutiny. Oversight committees must be independent, must be empowered, and must never again be sidelined while the council slides into crisis.”
Finance spokesperson Cllr. Ian M The Lib Dem team are busy analysing the information available to them in preparation for next week’s Scrutiny Committee and the Full Council meeting on 2 March.
The Labour Group’s draft budget has included huge cuts to plug a £130m funding shortfall over the next four years, while trying to reduce £1.4b of debt brought about by some high-risk borrowing.
It includes selling off some of the town’s key assets, including Birchwood Park, while increasing council tax by 7.5 per cent.
Council to sell key assets including Birchwood Park due to “critical financial position”
