Lib Dems propose a fairer, and cheaper, budget

11.50.00am GMT Wed 20th Feb 2008

Cllr David McBride proposed a cheaper Council Tax for Bromley's residents

Bromley's Liberal Democrat Group moved an amendment to the Council's budget for 2008/9 proposing a lower increase in Council Tax than that proposed by the Conservatives.

Under the Lib Dem plans the Council Tax for next year would have gone up by 3%, as opposed to nearly 4% proposed by the Tory Group. As well as this, extra investment was promised to roads, pavements, street trees, local community groups and the planned increase in charges to the elderly for domiciliary care would have been more than halved.

Proposing the amendment, Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr David McBride said, "Last year the Conservatives collected almost £2million from its residents they did not use, most of which they intend to put away in reserves. The Council should not be acting as a bank for its residents. If they cannot think of a use for the money, then they should give it back and have a lower rise this year." "We will, however, use part of the unspent money to cut the 10% rise in charges for the elderly. This tax on our elderly residents is just plain bad. We would fix the increase at 3.9%, which is the same level as benefits are going up," he added.

Deputy Leader Cllr Reg Adams added that the swimming pool at Biggin Hill should be built at Charles Darwin School, not at the Library site. This will save £1.5 million in the Capital Programme. "It just does not make financial sense to spend an extra £1.5 million on a scheme where local residents seem to want it elsewhere. We would still build the pool, but at the more sensible, and cheaper, Charles Darwin School site." "Instead, we would use the money to fix the disgraceful state of our roads and pavements and also set up a new Communities Fund which local community groups can access to support their vital, and ever increasing, role in our local areas."