Budget briefing from the Independents

Unprecedented cutbacks have been imposed by the coalition government onto our local councils. LCC receives 11.2% less next year and NKDC is losing 30% over two years. Rural councils like ours are still not getting their fair share and we shall be paying more for less next year. We used to think the Labour governments treated rural areas unfairly, but now it appears they all do! The capping mechanism means that Councils will be heavily pressurised into showing a nil increase on the rates bill and receive an equivalent 2% grant instead.

Independents have worked together to call for savings by more joint working with other organisations, reducing management and spending less on consultancy and legal fees.  I am pleased to see these have been taken on board and included in the proposals for both councils, though more is needed in some areas.

The LCC budget does not yet reveal exactly what effects the proposed cuts will have. However, our campaigns to protect the PCSO’s, all day concessionary fares, community grants and road maintenance have been successful and are included in the proposals.

However, at NKDC, not enough savings are proposed on reducing management and improved joint working. We have serious concerns about the proposal to halve the budget to the village access points which carry out council business very efficiently in partnership with the Parish Councils.  

Other concerns are the proposed cuts to community safety in ceasing CCTV in 2013, cutting debt advice, abolishing the pest control service and paying more for parking.

There is a proposal to charge for all pre-planning advice, but I am calling for the first 20-30 minutes to be free, helping ordinary people with small applications, but still charging for big applications, where the current fee does not cover the costs, which is unfair.”

It is the right time for people to let us know what they think and help us get this budget right. Marianne can be contacted on marianne.overton@biosearch.org.uk or 01400 273323

NKDC cuts: Budget press release from the Lincolnshire Independents at NKDC

Leader of the Lincolnshire Independents at NKDC, Marianne Overton said;

“This is a drastic reduction in government grant with 30% over two years at NKDC. and we are still not getting our fair share. We used to think the Labour governments treated rural areas unfairly, but now it appears they all do! The capping mechanism means that Councils will be heavily pressurised into showing a nil increase on the rates bill and receive an equivalent 2% direct instead.

“As Independents we continue to fight to retain services and improve efficiencies. NKDC has an overall budget drop of 15% over two years. Next year, we will be paying the same for a reduced service.”

“We have called for savings by more joint working with other councils, reducing management and spending less on consultancy and legal fees.  I am pleased to see these have been taken on board and included in the proposals here, though more is needed.”

“More is needed on joint purchasing with other councils to get efficiencies. For example, it still costs NKDC 60p more to purchase a bin, than it would in Lincoln.  I can’t see why we should pay more than Lincoln,” said David Suiter.

Marianne is keen to keep the village access points intact, out of the 2% additional government grant not yet accounted for in the budget.

“Halving the budget to the access points is absurd. Reducing hours here will only make it harder for the public and cause greater costs in the Council.” Some members of the public really struggle on the phone and are much more efficiently helped face to face in their own village. They are very efficiently run, being a partnership with the Parish Councils.”

“Ceasing the money advice service is a bad mistake in the current climate. The need will increase with the higher unemployment levels we are now facing. Sound independent debt advice ensures people can pay their fair share of council tax and rent and not be a burden on others. Voluntary services do a great job, but are overstretched and early intervention is important.”

“Other concerns are the proposed cuts to community safety in ceasing CCTV in 2013, abolishing the pest control service and paying more for parking.”

“Simply charging for pre-planning advice will damage our system as it hits members of the public and small businesses who simply want to know whether they need to apply for planning or not. I believe hat at least the first 20-30 minutes should be free, which still leaves opportunity to charge for big applications. Big developments take vast amounts of resource, not covered in their fee, which is unfair.”

In conclusion, this budget needs some amendments! It is the right time for people to let us know what they think and help us get this budget right. Marianne can be contacted on marianne.overton@biosearch.org.uk or 01400 273323