Lib Dem Proposals for County Durham Budget (Durham Liberal Democrats)

Durham Liberal Democrats <info@durhamlibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dem Proposals for County Durham Budget

February 23, 2011 10:34 AM

Durham County Council Liberal Democrat Group today unveiled their proposals to support hard-pressed families across the county as part of the Council's Budget Setting Meeting on Wednesday this week.

In particular the Liberal Democrats will be proposing

• Scrapping County Durham News, which is little more than a Council propaganda sheet,
• Stopping Labour's proposed scrapping of the Welfare Rights Unit,
• Stopping Labour's proposed cut in grant to the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) in County Durham, and
• A package to subsidise home to school/college transport for over 16s living travelling more than 3 miles to study.

Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Councillor Nigel Martin, said:

"While Liberal Democrats understand the need to find substantial savings to help deal with the country's massive financial deficit left by Labour, I am dismayed by the approach taken by Labour at County Hall.

"Instead of looking at priorities, Labour has taken the simplistic approach of trying to find similar cuts across all the main service groupings.

"Liberal Democrats recognise that times will be hard for very many people across the County and we will try to maintain support for those in particular difficulty.

"The Welfare Rights Unit has a national reputation for the work it does and brings in millions a year in additional benefits that not only support those in need but also the local economy.

"CAB has an increasing workload at the moment and the last thing we should be doing is pulling the rug out from under it.

"In addition, continuing a level of support to sixth form and college students must be right at this time.

"Surely it is much better to use scarce resources for these things rather than spending money on a council propaganda sheet of little or no value to hard-pressed citizens of County Durham.

"And there are other things that can be done.

"Other Councils, including Lib Dem run Sheffield, have come to agreements with staff on pay restraint that have both protected low pay staff and minimised the risk of redundancies. In Durham nothing has been attempted.

"On top of all this, Labour is now only just revealing the true nature of their cuts with Leisure Centre closures being announced in the press before councillors in areas affected had been told. This is something we shall be challenging as Labour's cuts go through.

"Labour in County Durham seems to know the cost of everything but has lost sight of both the value of key services and of Council staff. Liberal Democrats aim to redress the balance."