What or who is important?

Well done Tories you got us all responding to a budget that is not even budget, it is manifesto with finance attached. Councillors and the local media jump around, while services wither on the vine of Tory callousness, because if you talk about cutting services earlier enough you can effectively run them down enough to make savings in the future, as personnel leave to find “safer” positions. This only proves that the Tories do not believe in a fair society or supporting all sections of the community.

So why is it only a manifesto and not a budget?

Well the authority does not even know what the government settlement is to be yet, that arrives next month. Plus their proposals are not realistic as the whole “budget” is based on raising five percent increase in council tax and that they must deliver a ten percent discount for pensioners. Cut this out and aim for a four percent increase in local tax you will get more sensible set of financial proposals.

If you are incensed by Tory Ideas?

If you are incensed by the ideas proposed and wonder why your local councillor does not do anything, you must look at the political colour of your representative as they may not be one of the councillors who is proposing or considering the cuts in service across the city, as this is the job of the Conservative Cabinet. You must lobby the cabinet and the leader especially as so many factors will change by the time a full budget proposal is put to the full council meeting in February.

My own party that does not have a majority of the seats on the city council but we believe still in proposing a budget that has the interests of those most in need in the city at its heart.

I know this does not give you the public any assurances over the services that the city provide but I hope it can give you some hope that there are councillors who do care about important services in the city and will be making them a priority when trying to set a budget.

However until the more residents vote for more Labour councillors and we regain control of the city the likely hood of setting a sensible and fair budget for the city is low.

Labour councillors will be fighting to try and set a fair and appropriate budget but can not give you any promises as it may just be a battle of words in the council chamber in February. As it is the party with most support (currently the Conservatives) who will get their way!