Tories reveal their alternative budget as Labour hits back
CONSERVATIVES SAY THEY WOULD OFFER FREE REPLACEMENT BINS AND LOWER COUNCIL TAX BUT
Conservatives in Sunderland have put forward an alternative budget for the city – but Labour has hit back over the proposals.
The Tories say they would limit any council tax increase to 3% to fund adult social care.
Opposition councillors say they have been able to find savings by eliminating wasteful items; increasing revenue and through alternative funding.
The Conservatives say they are also putting forward increased spending on priorities andwillworkupdetailedcostsfor the budget meeting on March 7.
Coun Robert Oliver, leader of Tories, said: “Residents of Sunderland are facing an unnecessary 5% council tax hike which can be limited to 3%, protecting adult social care and reducing any rise in local tax for general spending.
“Sunderland Conservatives support extra funding for adult social care and Together for Children but have identified more than the £1.8million in savings needed to limit any rise in council tax to 3%.
“The biggest saving is found by swapping the £1.5million to be spent from the council coffers on litter with a councilowned company which would raise revenue through fines and cost the taxpayer nothing.
“We would also reduce councillors’ allowances by reining in allowances across the board and by eliminating the five deputy cabinet members, saving more than £100,000.
“In line with the priorities of residents, Conservative councillors would also increase funding for pothole repairs; pay for the replacement of stolen wheelie bins and encourage more recycling.”
However, Labour councillor and cabinet secretaryMelSpedinghitbackat ToryclaimsandattackedtheGovernment over ‘swingeing cuts’.
He said: “Is there absolutely nothing the Tories do not want toprivatiseandwhereisthecosted detail of such a proposal? The council has stepped up enforcement because a minority of people still think that they can drop litter wherever they like.
“Because of swingeing cuts imposed on Sunderland by both the Tory/LibDem Coalition and subsequently the Tory Government, the council does not have the resources now to clean up after the irresponsible few.
“People want a cleaner and greenercityandwecannottolerate those not making the effort to help keep our streets,
parks, playing fields and neighbourhoods clean and tidy. The council has successfully prosecuted fly-tippers in the last year and more prosecutions in the magistrates’ courts are pending.
“While there is still a role for people to be more educated and informed about their actions, the council must also enforce and fine those people who blatantly litter and fly-tip. Enforcement is a priority and we have put in place a new policy and extra resources to tackle the problem. We donotsupporttheintroductionof privatefirmstocarryoutthecouncil’senvironmentalenforcement.”
On allowances, Coun Speding added: “Councillors are entitled to certain allowances, basedon their role and responsibilities within council andthecommunity.
“The council has an independent remuneration panel that annually reviews allowances and that would be the appropriate body for the opposition to lobby. Apart from the two LibDems taking a 75 per cent and a 50 per cent rise in their allowances, there has been no increase in basic allowances since 2012."
However, that brought a withering response from LibDemcouncillorStephenO'Brien, who said: “It seems Labour are so scared of the Lib Dems after ourrecentelectionvictoriesthey have resorted to saying things about us that aren't true.
“I have been on the same allowance since I was elected. I believe actions speak louder than words, which is why the Lib Dems are the only party who have voted to cut councillor allowances. When we tried to cut these last year Labour and Conservative councillors shamefully refused to vote with us and instead chose to protect their allowances.” Respondingtotheproposalto reduce trade union facility time, Coun Speding said: “Since 2010 this council to datehaslostover 5,000 jobs and in working closely with the unions have been able to avoid the need for compulsory redundancies.
“In common with all employers which recognise trade unions, the council has a legal duty tograntemployeespaidorunpaid time off from their work duties..
“The council is also required to provide reasonable facilities for such duties and activities.”
On calls to increase income from parking in line with other councils, Coun Speding said: “Parking is not only good value andinlinewithmanyothercouncils but major increases, as businesses and customers regularly tell us, could have a detrimental effect on the economy of the city. Income is continually under review, and the council now has a surplus on its parking.”
And on proposals for funding the replacement of stolen wheelie bins reported to the police, he said: “The original decision to bring in a charging policy for the replacement of bins was made in 2013.The implementation of the decision was postponed due to the council receiving a grant from the Government to continue weekly refuse collections which had a provision in for replacement bins. That grant ran out in April 2017.
“In recent years, the council has replaced approximately 10,000 wheelie bins at a cost of over £200,000. The number hovers steadily around this figure every year.