Investment is necessary

Response to Letter by

Simon Oakley in Chichester Observer, Print Edition 13.03.2024

In his attacks on the new Council’s budget, Simon Oakley continues to miss the same fundamental points he did when he was a District Councillor. Without investment for the long term, all of the services we rely on and all of the things that people cherish about this area will be degraded irreparably. Strong, resilient and vibrant communities require investment if they are to remain this way. In opposition the Liberal Democrats did indeed attack the Conservative administration’s cuts to highly-valued services and its slowness to realise that ‘a stitch in time saves nine’ – that investment in supporting green business growth, decarbonisation and cultural programmes would pay for themselves in the long run.

That’s quite different to saying that the administration was as careless with public money as is the national government.

Mr Oakley’s criticisms are also contradictory given that our administration has balanced the budget, has made cost savings without making significant cuts and has begun investing for the future without putting the long-term finances of the Council at risk.

In the face of

Government cuts to local councils’ budgets, its mixedmessaging and delays to funding arrangements for new statutory services we have been able to show that the council can be run prudently while investing in the things that matter to the long-term health of our communities, our countryside and our climate. Adrian Moss, Leader, Chichester District Council Jonathan Brown, Deputy Leader, Chichester District Council

Richard Cobden House Lion Street, Chichester