23 January (Part 2) - You’ve never had it so good
At
this evening’s Cabinet meeting, Finance Director Alison Griffin said that things
were on course for a 3·99% Council Tax increase this year (subject to Full Council agreement of course)
which is the most that the Council can get away with without calling a referendum, and there is no way
Bexley Council will ever do that.
Putting up taxes by the highest amount possible does not sound good but at a
time when central Government is being less than helpful, to do so without eating
into reserves is a considerable achievement. It remains to be seen if Mayor Sadiq Khan
can maintain Boris Johnson’s record of annual reductions in the GLA precept.
It was however the next speaker who produced the real rabbits from the hat, and
he clearly relished doing so over and over again. Both opposition parties were
struck dumb, not a single question.
After the massive spending cuts of recent years, Councillor Peter Craske plans
a cleaner greener and safer borough. He had summoned up some £800,000 to spend
on projects which will be widely welcomed. If the money is spent effectively,
Bexley might not become a dirty tip after all.
Peter Craske really did sound rather impressive at a time when austerity is supposed to be
the norm. There must be an election due again before long.
Full details may be seen here.