2007 Budget Debate

THE 2007 TAMWORTH COUNCIL BUDGET DEBATE (26/02/07)

This debate threw up all the normal things. Masses of meaningless figures in volumes of text. Some Councillors struggling to keep up on their laptops - whilst completely losing the gist of the debate (I won’t have a laptop and so print my own off on my home computer- a pain and expensive for me but better to work from! ) The Tories pre-prepared speeches lauding the “wonderful” job they had done for Tamworth (whilst having the odd dig at Labour).

But the worst thing about this debate though was the way the Tories hogged all the time. When 8.30 came only from the opposition sides only myself and Labour’s Dennis Powick had actually managed to say anything at all in the main debate. Difficult to know when I had ever heard so much woffle and self-praise in my life. You’d have thought the Tories had cut taxes or something. Instead they increased them right up to the ceiling of what Government would other cap them at. Rises are even programmed for the next four years for exactly the same - well over double the rate of inflation! And they have the cheek to call themselves Tories! I’m more of a Tory than this lot are!!

The Labour group did manage an amendment to the budget. To cut the vast array of excessive “contingency” funds the Tories have built up so as to reduce Council tax to the same as last year. Defeated of course - but I voted for it. It’s depressing sometimes to see the party lines drawn and binding everyone to defend their group - right or wrong!

Anyway - when I got my own word in (very luckily just before the 8.30pm deadline when the “guillotine” chops all debate) I kept it very short and simple. No point going into the mass of figures (we’d done that before in various committee meetings). I could see the headline figures. It was obvious to me that it pointed to cynical mismanagement of Tamworth’s money and assets. So no harm in saying as much then! Apart from which my tail was up from a personal attack on me by the Tory leader during question time earlier in the evening! Check it out here.

(C. Cooke - Budget 26/02/07)

“I’ll keep it brief Madam Mayor.

Tamworth Council has spent neigh on £1,000,000 simply on the process of GIVING away our Council houses. That amounts to one third of all Council tax received in a year. Instead of taking more money from residents we could instead have been giving them their money back!
Instead we are raising Council Tax - over and above inflation - year in year out.

I said I’d be brief Madam Mayor.
The Stock Options Process has been a disaster for Tamworth
The Housing Repairs budget has been a disaster for Tamworth
Recycling has, in so many respects, been a disaster for Tamworth {gasps from Tory benches :-) }
The disposal of so many of Tamworth’s Assets has been a disaster for Tamworth
In fact this whole Conservative administration has been a disaster for Tamworth

This is their budget - not mine. That is why I will NOT vote for any part of it!

Thank you Madam Mayor”