‘Very challenging circumstances’
Continued from p1
“Sadly, in your hands, we see the finances going down cup, by cup, by cup,” he added.
“There’s one line that I think I must pick up, which I think sums up your complete inability to realise the mess you're making day after day.
“4.10 – ‘Making the most effective use of resources– delivering the best value for money is included as an underpinning principle of our approach’ – when’s that going to start?
“If it’s value for money to pay more for less for the waste collection or, according to the Maidenhead Advertiser at least, by selling land off cheap to developers, or even the virement we’re going to have later, it’s just waste, waste, waste – this really isn’t value for money.”
However, council leader Andrew Johnson sought to defend his administration’s handling of the financial situation, highlighting the fact that his cabinet had delivered an underspend on its budget since taking over in 2019, thanking Cllr Hilton and officers for the report in ‘what has been very challenging circumstances’.
“[Over] the last three years we have had a global pandemic, we have had a war within Europe, we have had rampant inflation and we have also seen some significant external cost shocks to the authority,” said Cllr Johnson.
“But during those three years, we have brought back to his council financial stability and financial rigidity.”
The leader of the council referenced his cabinet’s work with CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy), and highlighted the council’s budgetary underspends.
“Yes, this year is challenging – for those coming to cabinet you will see the figures for yourselves – but I just want to say that we have a clear and credible plan, unlike some of the comments from [the opposition],” he said.
“Yet again, naked opportunism. Cast your minds back to all of those budgets that I’ve led as leader of this council: no credible alternatives proposed.”
Cllr Johnson added that there had been no clarity on the ‘wild, pre-election spending commitments’, and added that the council will start reviewing CIL charging across the borough following the adoption of the Borough Local Plan.