Tories go for broke!

6.16.00pm GMT Wed 20th Feb 2008

The Conservatives approach to the Budget is as unsustainable gimmick, not prudent finanical planning

Commenting on the Conservatives' attempt to propose a budget for Three Rivers, Abbots Langley councillor and Deputy leader of Three Rivers Matthew Bedford said, ""The Conservatives' budget is full of holes. They have made wild assumptions about future savings, without telling people which services they will cut to achieve these savings. In order to cut Council Tax, they are slashing the council's investment programme by up to 70% in future years - this will affect especially leisure facilities like play areas.

The Conservatives have also left no room for increasing the budget in the future - so when their Conservative colleagues at County Hall cut back on funding for PCSOs next year, there will be no money left in the kitty to fill the gap. The LibDem budget enables us to make provision for these sorts of contingencies in the future.

"Worst of all, if you recalculate the Conservatives' figures using our more prudent assumptions about future savings, they would be running an unsustainable annual deficit budget of £1.5 million and balances will be dangerously close to the recommended minimum in three years time. They would then be left with no alternative but to raise Council Tax again hugely, by at least 25% in 2011, just to balance the books.

"Residents will recognise that this is an unsustainable gimmick, not prudent financial planning. The LibDem administration has consistently delivered high-quality services and below-inflation tax rises. This year we are confident that we can offer a tax freeze whilst improving services as people want and preserving the council's strong financial position so that we can keep tax rises down in the future as well."