Must work together to build a credible budget

Only the Conservatives have a credible plan when it comes to securing the longterm financial future of the council, maintaining key services and ensuring we all benefit from the post-pandemic recovery

Next week we will see the council debate and vote upon arguably one of the most difficult budgets in a generation – a budget devised during the most challenging period for public finances since the Second World War.

Yet despite the negative predictions of some, we are in a far stronger position than many would care to admit.

Yes, this proposed budget contains difficult decisions.

It has been largely shaped by the circumstances we find ourselves in and by the need to meet the legal duty to balance.

Last year we proposed a budget which was tough, took difficult decisions to reset the council’s finances and laid out a medium-term financial approach to guide us.

That budget would have seen us deliver a surplus at the end of this financial year which would have been put back into reserves to bolster our position, and savings to balance future years’ budgets would largely have been delivered as part of our transformation agenda.

However, that was not to be.

Whilst we are still on course to finish with a strong surplus, that will now be largely used to offset the enduring impact of COVID-19.

Had we not had the surplus then undoubtedly we would have been forced to make additional further spending reductions.

Of course, many would say that the council was in financial difficulty prior to COVID.

That is in part true, however, as demonstrated last year we had a credible plan to meet the challenge of delivering balanced budgets, investing in services, and building up our reserves.

That remains the plan, though that challenge has intensified because of the pandemic.

However, we have risen to meet that challenge and are the only ones to be recommending to a fully costed, consulted and balanced budget which continues to see investment in key areas, yet retains our status as having one of the lowest levels of council tax in England.

Sadly the opposition have offered very little in terms of genuine alternatives we would support.

It is a budget where for the first time in many years we have proposed a draft, consulted upon it, and made meaningful changes as a result.

It is a budget driven by the need to secure the council’s financial position as well as continue to deliver critical services.

It is a budget which maps out the longterm future of the Royal Borough.

It is a budget which supports our commitment to tackling climate change.

It is a budget which keeps our taxes hundreds of pounds below neighbouring areas.

Of course, next week there will be disagreements and different opinions.

However, there should not be opposition for opposition’s sake.

Genuine alternatives must be presented and debated before we come to make the final decision.

Irrespective of the final vote we all need to support whatever measures are agreed and to end the tide of negativity being promoting in some quarters.

We as elected members have a duty during times of crisis to collectively work together, but also to strive to promote the Royal Borough’s interests as we enter the new post-pandemic world.

Cllr ANDREW JOHNSON Leader of the Royal Borough