It’s a difficult balancing act

I WAS interested to read in last week’s Glamorgan Gazette that the Conservative Group on Bridgend County Borough Council intend to vote against the proposed budget for 2018/19 even though two of their number recently approached the BCBC leadership to suggest an increase in council tax above and beyond what was originally suggested.

This smacks of political point scoring at its very worst.

Since becoming a County Councillor last May, I have come to appreciate that it is an incredibly difficult job to finely balance the need to protect local public services and ensure that the public have value for money through the council tax which they pay.

In a political and economic climate which sees ongoing austerity from central government; stagnant economic growth which continues to be revised downwards; a Brexit process which threatens our economic outlook further; and inflation which remains at 3%, I think that the BCBC budget has struck the right balance and it will therefore gain my support.

However, I am very much looking forward to seeing the Conservative Group present their alternative budget to show that they are not just carping from the o opposition sidelines without putting forward a viable alternative. I won’t hold my breath.

Councillor Alex Williams (Penprysg Ward)