Lambeth Conservatives

Council is “wasting money like a sailor on shore leave”

Labour-controlled Lambeth Council’s proposed council tax increase is the highest in London – and much of the increase is being wasted on gimmicks, greed, and spin.

Labour proposes that the tax should rise by 4.75%, well above inflation and above pension increases. London’s second highest rise was in Kingston at 4.4%.

Meanwhile, Conservative controlled councils are either cutting council tax (Hammersmith & Fulham is down 3%), or freezing it (Hounslow and Westminster).

But Labour is not spending its extra cash wisely.

Propaganda costs are rocketing. A council-produced tabloid newspaper is now distributed fortnightly, increasing costs by some £200,000 pa.
In a single day, the council advertised for “communications” staff whose full salary cost will be approximately half-a-million pounds each and every year.
Labour councillors previously voted themselves huge salary expenses, and they carry on rising.
The council set aside some £70,000 for a youth mayor – but spent around two-thirds of the money on advertising and admin, thereby cutting potential youth services.
The council employed an interior designer at approximately £40,000 pa, instead of contracting out the work. When the refurbishment programme ends, Lambeth will be left with the most expensive “flower-pot arranger” in London.
Within satellite budgets, money is wasted hand-over-fist. In at least one Lambeth school, misbehaving pupils are given foot massages in class time.

The Conservative Group has proposed an alternative budget that promotes efficiency, and cuts waste and gimmickry. As a result, it would protect front-line services and yet knock two percentage points off Labour’s budget-busting tax rise with a rise of only 2.44 per cent. For a second successive year, the Conservatives have offered a fully costed alternative budget that has received a clean bill of health from the Council Finance Dept (i.e., no financial “warnings” necessary).

Conservative Group Leader Cllr John Whelan commented: "Labour is spending money like a sailor on shore leave: But it is not their money. They have forgotten that the money comes from local residents, many of whom are financially hard-pressed. The council should protect services and cut waste.

"At the last election, Labour implied that they would cut tax, and now they propose the largest increase in London. As with the ALMO, they are sneaky and sly. Remember, this tax increase is in addition to (not instead of) previous tax increases Labour used to condemn!"

Labels: Allowances, ALMO, Council tax, Finance, John Whelan, Labour Lambeth, Propaganda, Youth Mayor

Lambeth Labour - highest council tax hike in London