The budget for 2010/11 was set on Monday night and by all accounts it was an emotionally charged event. Both the Lib Dems and the Greens put forward alternative budgets. Only Labour's involved a 0% increase in council tax, which I welcome. For many years I have been raising the plight of the cost of council tax not just for the elderly, many who have limited means, but for hard-working people, the poorer and those struggling to make ends meet. An increased bill at this time would be unwelcome and disastrous, so I am pleased that the Labour council has frozen the council tax at last year's rates.

However, it is worth noting a few points. Firstly, the Socialists who did not put forward an alternative budget of their own voted with the Lib Dems for their budget proposals, then when that was lost they voted with the Greens against the Lib Dems. For Ian and Chris, any budget would be preferable to a Labour budget that freezes our council tax bill. Odd that isn't it? Well not really, as yet again ideology gets in the way of helping ordinary people with the consequences of the recession.

Secondly, the Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock adopted a couple of proposals from other parties too. Again, I am pleased as sometimes other parties have some good ideas. In this case, the Green group on the council proposed a 3% fuel saving should be pursued and that the money saved should fund the setup costs of the Free Private Sector Home Insulation Scheme, also proposed by the Green group. I applaud parties working together for the benefit of all our people.

So how can the council afford to not increase council tax? According to Steve Bullock, The simple answer is prudent financial management. The council's bank balance is in good shape. This could be held as revolutionary by some, but the facts are the facts. We can all point the finger at initiatives that have not been funded or ask for more apprenticeships for our young people. Indeed I am the first to demand improvements to our housing stock, but Labour is working.

There is much more to be done, not least of which improving repairs carried out by Lewisham Homes, the treatment of leaseholders, improving our roads, protecting our streets and supporting council workers who have read negative headlines in the press recently. The budget debate on Monday highlighted that much has been achieved. We must continue to improve the lives of the poorer in our communities; work towards the eradication of poverty; demand better train services and protect our neighbourhoods from those that have no respect for our society.

In some small way, freezing council tax this year has enabled this to continue and I welcome it.
 


Comments




Leave a Reply