Cllr David Meikle, a Conservative councillor on Glasgow City Council, on how his fellow councillors have blocked an investigation into the Steven Purcell scandal. After weeks of speculation, rumour and allegation, councillors finally got the chance to debate the recent scandal involving Purcell and Glasgow City Council. The Leader of the Opposition submitted a motion which called […]
I have only just clocked this article from yesterday's Telegraph, which reports on further evidence that the Labour Government has unduly directed local government funding away from rural Conservative areas: "Figures released in a written parliament answer by Barbara Follett, the Communities and Local Government Minister, show that district and county councils have experienced a […]
Mark Wallace, of the Taxpayers Alliance, calls for local government to be made financially independent. Naturally, the political world will this week be focused on the Budget. Faced with crushing levels of debt, vast amounts of new Government borrowing, a vastly complex tax and welfare system and an international crisis of confidence in our economy […]
Cllr Paul Scully, the Conservative opposition leader on Sutton Council, shows how even on "assumptions cautious in the extreme" a 1.75% Council Tax cut can be achieved for his borough. Sutton Council’s Conservative Opposition proposed a 1.75% cut in Council Tax and a freeze for three years in a row thereafter, in their recent budget amendment. […]
The Government has come up with 10 suggestions of how to protect front line services by finding savings elsewhere. Among the helpful insights are "Council services must be focused on the customer." "Make services more efficient" "Check performance against others." "Motivate staff to help to perform to the best of their ability." "Make managers leaders […]
The Conservatives might be the junior partner in the joing administration with the Liib Dems that runs Brent Council. But they have certainly had a lott to do with achieving a Council Tax freeze. Cllr Bob Blackman, Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Resources has very much been in the driving seat and prsented the […]
Exasperating reportin the Daily Telegraph about Lib Dem-run Oldham Council spending £3,000 on a jaunt for 20 oofficers and councillors to discuss cost cutting. It took place at the four star Marriott Park Hotel and Country Club. This is despite the Council's own Town Hall meeting rooms having been recently upgraded at a cost of […]
Cllr Tim Archer, a Conservative councillor on Tower Hamlets, outlines his Group's alternative budget to that of the Labour-run Council. Labour have maxed-out the credit card and now face a £54m black hole in the finances, whilst the Conservatives would deliver more Police, more Homes and free school meals. Conservatives will provide safer and cleaner […]
A report from the Taxpayers Alliance shows that councils across the UK had a combined pension deficit of £53 billion in 2008-09. This is up from nearly £42 billion in 2007-08 – an increase of 27 per cent. According to council's own actuarial estimates, the value of council pension assets fell by more than £21 […]
A BBC survey of local councils is predicting cuts in the workforce of 10% over the next three to five years. The recession has ht revenue from areas like parking and planning applications as well as asset sales. But the main reason why job losses are anticipated is a fall in Government grant. The prediction […]
Wandsworth's council tax is on course to remain the lowest in the UK at £687 for an average Band D property (including the GLA precept) after the authority announced proposals for freezing its share of the bills for the third year running. Wandsworth Council own share of the bill is just £377. It means the […]
Conservative-controlled Havant Borough Council is proposing a Council Tax freeze – not just for the coming year but for three years. They have set themselves ambitious targets to save money as they recognise this is likely to be a tough financial period in terms of central Government grant. Their proposals are here. There are some increases […]
News of Tory councils freezing (or cutting) the Council Tax continues to come in by the day. Congratulations to Reigate and Banstead Borough who are freezing Council Tax - the first time in the Council’s history that the bill won't go up. Cllr Victor Broad, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Finance, says: “To enable […]
Birmingham Council is proposing a below inflation Council Tax increase of 1.9%. Birmingham is a Conservative led Council but is constrained by relying on the Lib Dems as junior coalition partners. Action is being taken to cope with an overspend otherwise heading for £14.3 million this year – a serious problem even for an outfit […]
Bradford Council is Conservative-led Council but unfortunatley as a minority administration. So the budget proposals of the leadership won't automatically be approved. Labour and the Lib Dems are both calling for Council Tax increases. However it is encouraging that a Council Tax freeze has been proposed by the Conservative administration. Cutting staffing levels and merging […]