Your points are well made Geoff although I do think you could have also mentioned the Stockport Tory Council's group budget proposals which would have meant cuts in funding to parks in Marple . Something the Tory never seem to mention in Marple.
I won't enter into a debate on here about the budget so this will be my only post on it. However, I will mention the Conservative budget proposals and correct the mis-information that is out there thanks to our Lib Dem colleagues.
@wheels at least if you are going to spout off, check your facts. Despite what some leaflets may say, our Budget proposals would not have meant cuts in funding to parks in Marple. The Stockport Conservative group proposed that the additional 1.75% increase in Council tax was rejected and the shortfall of £1.3m was bridged utilising the funds from the £4m of underspend in the last financial years accounts. The money for the parks came from the Conservative Government transition grants of £1m this year and next year. Our proposal did not touch this proposal.
In summary - The budget shortfall for 2016/2017 was £1.3m
Lib Dem led Council had a £4m underspend this year
The Executive allocated £7m to reserves in nine months in 2015/2016
This increased the reserves to £64m, from £20m in 2010
The Executive increased Council tax by additional 1.75% above social care precept which raises £2.3m, £1m above what is needed.
In these times of austerity, your Lib Dem led Council has managed to grow its reserves from £20m in 2010 to £64m in 2016 (an increase of 305% and annual growth rate of 17.28%, which is significantly above the rate of inflation). Why is this? Why are the people of Stockport being used as a bank by the Council? I understand there have been necessary cuts in the budget and choices have to be made but the situation may not be quite as bad as is painted. If I could increase my savings by 305% in 5 years while at the same time my income was falling, with the same level of bills, I would be a very happy man and would indicate to me that for the last 5 years I have been a very wasteful man in terms of what I spent my money on.
At the last Marple Area Committee, Cllr Candler stated that to bring all of Stockports parks up to standard, the Council would need to be spend approx £1m. This is 1/64th of the reserves of the Council, and yet we struggle to get funding for parks in High Lane, Marple, Mill Brow and for Middlewood Way.
So while your Lib Dem Councillors continue to cut services and blame austerity cuts, they have managed to grow their bank account significantly. Your local Conservative Councillors will keep campaigning and challenging them to stop playing their political games at the expense of Stockport residents and to spend the significant amounts of money they have on the services people need.
