Community Schemes Face Axe As Labour Lose Control Of Council Budget (York Liberal Democrats)

York Liberal Democrats <info@yorklibdems.org.uk>

Community Schemes Face Axe As Labour Lose Control Of Council Budget

January 9, 2012 9:15 AM

Nigel Ayre Residents awaiting the start of Ward Committee funded schemes to improve their local area look set to be disappointed, after it emerged that City of York Council's Labour Cabinet are planning to axe a number of schemes planned for this year.

The Council's Cabinet are attempting to claw back any money from Ward Committees that hasn't yet been spent, even if it has been committed to a project. The move means that many schemes chosen by local residents to be funded by their local Ward Committee will have to be scrapped in order to help the Labour Cabinet deal with their inability to control overspending.

Councillor Nigel Ayre, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion said many residents would be surprised and disappointed to find out schemes were being cut this year.

He said, "When Labour took control of the Council they were very keen to highlight how they planned to 'reverse £1m of cuts' to the Council budget. They even used their budget amendment to give Ward Committees some extra money."

"Yet, now the headlines from that particular stunt have subsided, residents are finding out that Labour are in fact about to force an in year cut to Ward Committee budgets."

"The Liberal Democrat Executive left Labour with a balanced budget and a £360,000 underspend from last year. Labour chose to spend that money and are now struggling to keep within this year's budget."

"If they hadn't gone on their reckless spending spree just after the election they would have been able to use that underspend to deal with budget pressures. Instead residents are now having to suffer because Labour haven't taken care of the Council's finances."

Councillor Ayre said many of the scrapped schemes were unlikely to be revived with funding from of next year's Ward Committee budgets. He said, "The current indications are that Labour are planning to reduce Ward Committee budgets by at least 50% next year, and if the follow the advice of their Fairness Commission they will be scrapped completely."

"Therefore there will be very little money available and many of the schemes that Labour are cutting this year may now never be completed. York residents and community groups are now paying the price for Labour's financial mismanagement."