Lib Dems to offer 'environmental and economical' alternative budget

10.26.27am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 2nd Mar 2007

The budget council meeting will take place at 2pm Friday 2nd March at Sheffield Town Hall.

The main opposition Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council are set to present their alternative budget at the local authorities budget meeting today. Lib Dems are putting forward an 'environmental and economical' alternative to Labour. Lib Dems are proposing a council tax increase under 2%, which is under the current rate of inflation and much less than the controlling Labour groups 3.9% proposal. On top of this there is extra investment for a raft of new green initiatives

These include: -

An extra £1,000,000 to offer more kerbside recycling and an extra £200,000 to offer a new kitchen waste recycling/composting scheme.

An extra £500,000 for street cleaning and environmental works in those areas that Labour have dropped from their targeted cleaning initiative.

An extra £500,000 to improve parks and green spaces.

A new £100,000 'green pot' for community groups to bid for to fund local environmental projects.

In order to find the extra investment to reduce council tax and offer extra green initiatives the Lib Dems are proposing a number of measures. These include a targeted reduction of sickness absence, consolidating office accommodation and cutting back on employing new managers and consultants.

Other new spending commitments in the Lib Dem budget include an extra £1,000,000 for extra officers tackling anti-social behaviour and an extra £850,000 to support small and medium sized businesses.

Cllr Andrew Sangar, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Finance, said: -

"Over the last few months we have been talking to local people and listening to their priorities. We have responded by putting forward a viable alternative to Labour's programme that is both environmental and economical"

"By cutting back on some of the unnecessary bureaucracy in the Town Hall we can offer improved services and propose a council tax increase that is well below inflation, keeping more money in local people's pockets"

"We believe that climate change and our local environment should be a key priority, but unlike Labour we can offer more than just words. That's why we are proposing a whole raft of new green initiatives including extra kerbside recycling, improved local parks and extra for cleaning up our local environment"

"This Labour run council is becoming increasingly unpopular with local people. Whether it's closing schools or breaking key manifesto pledges on street cleaning, they are back to their old arrogant ways that lost them control in the 1990's. Our budget sends a clear message to local people that we are listening and we are ready, willing and able to deliver on their priorities"

Note: -

The budget council meeting will take place at 2pm Friday 2nd March at Sheffield Town Hall.

See main points of the alternative Lib Dem budget below:-

Council Tax

A 1.96% council tax increase instead of Labour's 3.9%.

Extra Investment

(1) Provide an extra £1,000,000 to offer more kerbside recycling and provide an extra £200,000 to offer a new kitchen waste recycling/composting scheme.

(2) Provide an extra £1,000,000 to employ extra officers to combat anti-social behaviour and make our neighbourhoods safer.

(3) Provide an extra £500,000 for street cleaning and environmental works in those areas that Labour plan to abandon.

(4) Provide an extra £500,000 to improve parks and green spaces.

(5) Provide £850,000 to bring about the creation of a 'one-stop shop' to support small and medium sized businesses.

Examples of extra Income/savings

(1) A targeted reduction of Sickness Absence.

(2) Extra income through utilising assets for storage, parking and advertising.

(3) Reducing the number of managers.

(4) Reduction of spend on legal fees.

(5) Consolidating office accommodation including the use of hot-desking