Parties clash over financial decisions

The budget has come in for fierce criticism from both opposition parties. Labour leader Dave Wilson branded the increase in charges as “essentially inequitable and crude and unimaginative”.

“There has been 15 years of deliberate shrinking of services by the Conservative group, made worse by 12 years of cuts in central government’s funding,” he said.

“It renders it impossible to deliver an adequate range of high-quality services and the cross-community support. “Its approach has become increasingly incoherent, characterised by a reactive response to events, a wholly opportunistic reaction to investments, and a failure to balance long-term and shortterm challenges.

“We now have a net debt level of £169 million - the 26th highest in the country for a district council. Most of that debt was incurred in buying a shopping centre whose value has plummeted.”

Lib Dem councillor Mike Sole described the budget as a “missed opportunity to invest in our district, the climate emergency and residents”. He said: “It does nothing but continue to oversee a reduction in services and continued over-investment in unpopular and poorly-managed capital projects.

“It creates a cabinet slush fund that we will only know what it is spent on when we see the leader and cabinet members smiling at us from the Kentish Gazette.” Council leader Ben Fitterharding, however, says the Conservative have “not just ideas aplenty, but action, too”. “The Conservatives have secured over £1m of new investment in Canenco, our public-owned waste and grounds company, for better bin collections and cleaner streets,” he said.

“We have frozen parking charges in over 1,000 spaces for another two years.

“We continue to make savings from staffing costs, investing in 24/7 services online and teams to reach those who need an in-person service.

“It’s Conservative councillors who are proposing to dramatically green the city centre, prioritise walking, cycling and public transport, and finally bringing an end to congestion. And it’s those primarily elected in Herne Bay, Whitstable and the rural areas, who are investing millions not just in those areas but also in regenerating Canterbury’s high street and bidding for tens of millions more to reboot its stunning heritage assets.”