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Liberal Democrat budget proposed and agreed
Protecting Services, Increasing Efficiency and Savings
“Despite a particularly severe government grant settlement, we have frozen the council tax, made significant savings in back-office costs, demonstrated we can keep tax increase low for years to come, and above all protected the services that residents value and rely on. Some hard choices have had to be made,” said Cllr Matthew Bedford, Cabinet Member for Resources presenting the Three Rivers Liberal Democrat administration’s budget last night.
The Lib/Dem budget, proposed and agreed, is designed to protect the front line services, to allow for improvement and development of some services and to continue the scheme of efficiency saving that has already saved large amounts and will save even more in future.
The recycling service is being improved, no leisure centres will be closed, street cleaning and barrow beats will continue. Funding for PCSOs and Community Safety is not being cut. We are not risking the viability of our small shopping centres by introducing parking charges. We are maintaining our 3 year sustainability plan. We are cutting councillors allowances.
TRDC has led the shared services approach which so many other councils have now adopted, and developed initiatives such as persuading the police to move Rickmansworth Police Station into Three Rivers House, offering a more accessible service and saving money for both parties. Efficient financial management of back offices and the recent freedom to cut out box ticking have all helped in keeping our council tax level for next year.
We reject the approach adopted elsewhere of hitting the vulnerable so political capital can be made from the cuts. Pretending that the voluntary sector can take over services or privatising everything is the answer are gimmicks for opposition parties that will never have to implement their suggestions.
Cllr Ann Shaw, Council Leader, said “the Conservative proposal seems to be based on misunderstanding and misrepresentation. None of the details have been exposed to public scrutiny”.
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