PRESS RELEASE - Friday 1st March 2019

Conservatives brand Lib Dem budget for South Cambs “irresponsible, secretive and high risk”

Conservative councillors at South Cambridgeshire District Council say the first budget put forward by the Liberal Democrats shows a lack of transparency and high risk financial planning.

“We always said that we wouldn’t oppose for the sake of opposing” says Cllr Peter Topping, Leader of the Conservative group, “however we see this budget as irresponsible and high risk. We are surprised that while the Lib Dems talk a lot about transparency they are not prepared to put their proposed investment decisions to scrutiny but prefer secret meetings. This is public money.”

The Conservative councillors voted against the new administration’s budget in full Council on Thursday 21st February 2019. They opposed it for several reasons, namely:

• £3 million pounds worth of cuts required in the next 4 years on top of the £2.5 million already identified.
• The investment strategy is high risk and short on detail.
• £100 million of borrowed money is being handed over to four individuals to invest in secret meetings.
• The Liberal Democrats intend to reduce the council’s reserves by over 60% in the next 5 years.
• After spending £50,000 on hiring management consultants the Liberal Democrats now plan to spend £1 million on a top down reorganization. 
• The Liberal Democrats voted down a bid to tackle fly-tipping across the district put forward by the Conservatives.

Conservatives put forward two amendments to the budget both of which were voted down by the Liberal Democrats. Cllr Peter Topping proposed an amendment that increased funding for tackling fly-tipping and keeping our villages clean, a key concern of many residents. An amendment from Cllr Heather Williams called for more transparency of the administration’s investment strategy but this too was voted down by the Liberal Democrats.

ENDS

Contact
Cllr Peter Topping, Leader of the Conservative Group at South Cambridgeshire District Council, 07825 876582, cllr.topping@scambs.gov.uk

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South Cambridgeshire Conservative Association

You can write or visit us at:

South Cambridgeshire Conservative Association
Broadway House
149-151 St Neots Road
Hardwick
CB23 7QJ

01954 211 444
scca@southcambsconservatives.co.uk

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