10 March - The budget debate - Seconds out, Round 2
After the Conservatives’
attempt to shred the
Labour budget amendment and refusal to provide additional help for the homeless the Tories
set about boosting their own scheme.
The first speaker was Councillor Cafer Munur (Conservative, Blackfen & Lamorbey).
He said that the Council’s biggest achievements were in the field of Childrens’
and Adults’ Social Care and praised the voluntary sector for their contribution.
No Conservative speech would be complete without a slagging off of Labour
politics and Councillor Munur did not disappoint. He thought that Labour
Councillors should apologise for the “disgraceful” behaviour of their activists.
They had allegedly referred to Bexley’s children in care as victims of Tory
financial policies. Councillor Perfect could be heard protesting the activists’ innocence.
Councillor Caroline Newton (Conservative, East Wickham) was next to speak and wished to see early implementation of the Housing Strategy and not the
“rushed” spending of Labour’s £1·5 million. Somehow or other she managed to link
their idea to “that other great Socialist and pension fund raider Robert Maxwell”.
Councillor Putson (Labour, Belvedere) had been guilty of a “rant”.
Councillor Sybil Camsey (Conservative, Crook Log) spoke on her favourite subject,
children and Special Educational Needs children. Unsurprisingly Council Perfect
was in her line of fire. Bexley had always done its best for children and had
delivered the first Special Needs Free School in the country.
Councillor Melvin Seymour (Conservative, Crayford) referred to the new recycling
arrangements and was enthusiastic about the financial savings in prospect and
getting rid of the recycling boxes. He was dismissive of complaints about the garden waste charges.
Councillor Alan Downing (Conservative, St. Mary’s & St. James) as already
reported made jokes about his idea for a dog walkers’ tax. I heard nothing else
worthy of inclusion here apart perhaps for his claim that the housing crisis
began under a Labour government.
Nick O’Hare (Conservative, Blendon & Penhill) was another Councillor who managed
to add nothing significant to the debate, however he did find time for criticism
of Labour. “Setting budgets is about making choices and Labour refuses to make
choices.” He then expressed exactly the same message using alternative words before saying that Labour Leader Daniel
Francis had engaged “in an extraordinary rant”. Running out of ideas he dragged
up Labour’s 2002-2006 40% tax rise again.
Could Councillor Dourmoush (Conservative, Longlands) do any better? It was not a very
high bar, but yes, just a bit. As Chairman of the Budget Joint Scrutiny
Committee he had asked the Labour Group for “alternative proposals again and
again but none was forthcoming, but I was not surprised at all. This is their trademark.”
He spoke in favour of BexleyCo which he said would enable £77 million to be
invested in housing and town centres over the next four years.
“It takes a certain amount of skill to prepare a balanced budget. Theirs appear
to have been written on the back of a cigarette packet and it is certainly a token gesture.”
Councillor Eileen Pallen (Conservative, Bexleyheath) spoke only about the plans for looking
after old people and countering their loneliness. The Council had paid a
hospice to provide suitable services.
Councillor Richard Diment (Conservative, Sidcup) spoke in favour of the budget
setting process and against the Labour Group’s alleged failure to participate.
He praised the increase in the SEN transport budget, up to two and three quarter
million pounds in 2018/19 but the costs continue to rise.
“The Council has acted to control this budget” and he referred to the new route planning software which
is generating large savings. (About £200,000.) “From next September we are
introducing a modest contribution towards costs for those newly passing Keystage 4.”
Price increases are never far away.
Councillor
James Hunt (Conservative, Blackfen & Lamorbey) spoke of “car parks
and car parking” and “even my mother has grasped paying by phone. It will now
always be cheaper to pay by phone. We are also freezing short term rates in car
parks and one to two hour rates for on street parking for people who pay by phone”.
Very profound James but what about the 30% increase at my nearest car park?
Councillor Howard Jackson (Conservative, Barnehurst) said the Tory manifesto
spoke of “keeping Council Tax as low as possible”. He thought the budget had
achieved that. (It is going up by the maximum that the law allows.)
Councillor Peter Reader (Conservative, West Heath) quoted many statistics which
suggested that Social Care Services must be much improved. “The Labour Group’s
Fake News is laid bare.”
Councillor Cheryl Bacon (Conservative) spoke only about her Sidcup ward and how
brilliant it was. The retail experience, the new library, the new cinema, two
micro breweries and a spa hotel.
Councillor Daniel Francis said it remained the case that “the cake was 60%
smaller than it was nine years ago. As a result of that, for the second year, we
have to be heavily supported by drawing on our reserves”.
“In 104 days the budget gap grew from £14·4 million in November to £18·8 million. The Section 551 Officer
[Finance Director] has said that in a few months time we will have to rip up the budget.”
He protested that when he had asked questions about overspends at Scrutiny
meetings he was told that he could not ask the question. The overspend of the
temporary accommodation budget had been kept secret for the first ten months of
the financial year. A reference to Page 333 of the Cabinet Agenda published here yesterday.
Leader O’Neill summed up. “Councillor Francis obviously doesn’t understand the
financial landscape. The Section 551 Officer has only put down red lines that
say we do not know what the future holds”.
“The housing crisis started in 2004, Jeremy Corbyn said so. Bexley punches well
above our weight which was shown last year when our residents voted for us and
gave us a majority.” She asked the opposition to vote for her budget. They didn’t.
We will now have Tweedledum and Tweedledee Tweeting that Bexley Labour
voted against various good things, like freezing short term parking fees. I don’t
know why they do that. Having lost the amendment surely it makes sense to go with second best?
There’s only a comparatively small difference between the two parties.
I’ll never make a politician will I?