Bonkers Budget adds up to cuts

He may be smiling... but you definately wont be...

Have just had a quick look at the budget figures and they are bleak and depressing. It is clear that the chancer Cllr Jarrett and his Tories have utterly mismanaged the finances for 2011/12 and have presented a bonkers budget for 2012/13 that simply doesnt add up.

In many other authorities across the UK the ruling group (whether Tory, Lib Dem , Labour or NOC) have actively consulted the public in open forums. Our administration has been desperate to keep the budget process hidden from public view; and we now know why.

There are many Councils controlled by Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats who have successfully managed the finances. This is not a partisan point; this is the incompetence of our current Conservatives in Medway.

The budget is a bloody mess

We have eye-watering shortfalls and cuts within caused ostensibly because the Council is spending too much.

In addition this is another budget which is very likely to fall apart and result in a budget, like this years, which will require a Tory raid on our capital reserves. An unsustainable position for the future.

This blog has reported on countless botched projects and overspends over the last 12 months at schools, bus stations, transport schemes and beyond. Not helped by the fact that Medway Tories oversee one of the mose fraudulant authorities in the country. They have simply lost control; all analysis points to a lack of political control.

Residents across Medway will likely feel that the Tories were elected on the basis of false promises following the publication of this bonkers budget.

Cuts to front line services are happening and will get even worse.

The draft proposals, which will be debated at the next Full Council meeting on 23rd February, show dramatic cuts to adult social care budgets, including ‘Supporting People’ funding which is targeted at the most vulnerable in society, including those with mental health issues and victims of domestic violence.

The budget also presumes that the closure of the Balfour Centre will go ahead, precluding the outcome of the consultation – but also offering another stark contrast to the Conservative election pledge of “Continuing to improve front line services such as care homes”.Likewise Sure Start centres, which give invaluable support to families across Medway, were a key source of debate during the election.

The Tories claimed Medway’s Sure Start centres were ‘safe’ with them and would not see funding reduced – yet they are now highlighted as a target for budget reductions.

The good news items are directly lifted either from our manifesto or are a result of the previous Labour administration in Medway

Good News items

Freeze in Council Tax - This was proposed by Medway Labour at the budget last year and it was copied by the Conservatives in the local election manifesto. We have led on this locally.

Lowest Council Tax in Kent - This is the lowest tax in Kent because under the last Labour Council we scrapped an entire tier of local government from the majority of Medway. Whilst Tory Kent has a district and County system we have a single layer of governance. The fact the Tories have maintained our record was due to tax rate capping by John Prescott and under Eric Pickles.

Bad News items (which stand out for me) on revenue and tax wheezes by the Conservatives

• Tory bulky waste tax to be introduced – we will see second charges for collections at£17.50 per collection
• Park and Ride – disposal of popular park and ride at Horsted
• Roads / Potholes – Road Maintenance (re-surfacing and potholes) budget reduced by £250,000
• Crematorium 'income' will increase

Of course the real bad news is in the small print which I and others will be going over with a fine tooth pick over the next couple of days.