Lib Dems Propose 2.89% Council Tax Rise For County

7.00.00am GMT Mon 7th Feb 2005

Warwickshire Liberal Democrats release their council tax and budget proposals today.

Key investments are:

Fully funding all pay and prices and also giving each department a basic guaranteed uplift of 2%.

£100,000 for social inclusion and local art schemes in each district of the County.

A donation of £50,000 for the Warwickshire Air Ambulance.

Extra funding to tackle under age drinking £40,000.

Over £2.9million of capital investment for the environment such as tackling, dropped kerbs, safeguarding bus services and increasing the investment on expanding kerbside collection and composting of green waste with extra funding of £400,000 for tackling the growing mountains of waste.

Start the investment into fitting seat belts for buses £5,000 will cover the cost of the primary school sector.

Safeguarding Social Care unlike the Conservative budget that once again takes out over £2million from this service.

Establish a modernisation fund to in order to restructure and refocus the County Council and start the investment into "One Stop Shops" and decentralising the way the County works moving investment from the back office to front line delivery.

Set tough targets for future years of 2.5% savings.

Cllr. Jerry Roodhouse

Cllr. Jerry Roodhouse Leader of the County Liberal Democrat group said:

"This year the Liberal Democrats have once again presented a budget that is prudent while also seeking to consolidate upon previous Liberal Democrat budgets.

This year sees the Liberal Democrats once again targeting the investment needed into local communities over £100,000 and safeguarding local area funds.

We have invested heavily into tackling the growing problems of waste & recycling especially green waste, we have investing to tackle disability £40,000 for dropped kerbs, we have investing to take action on under age drinkers £40,000.

We are also seeking all party support to make a donation to the Warwickshire Air Ambulance that benefits us all.

Both Labour and the Conservatives are borrowing more money than the Liberal Democrats. Both the other parties are also spreading their money, using a scattergun approach. We are also disappointed that the Conservatives have once again cut the social services budget by over £2million hitting the most vulnerable.

With no one political party in control of Warwickshire there could well be a lengthy debate on the 8th February. The people of Warwickshire can have our assurance that we will once again be consistent and ensure that services are maintained and that all investment will be targeted".

The differences between the groups may look small in monetary terms - £182,000 between the Liberal Democrat and Conservative figures. However, there is a gap in thinking about where the money should be spent. For the Liberal Democrats there are certain key priorities. We shall strive towards our vision of creating a Warwickshire that is:

A Caring County.

A Clean & Green County.

A Safer County.

A County Accessible for all.