Reconnection Day?

8.06.26am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 27th Apr 2004

Manchester Liberal Democrats propose a 'People's Budget for a Better Manchester'

"Manchester's Town Hall Labour bosses must listen to the concerns of Manchester residents about the city's tax levels and spending priorities if they are to reconnect with the agenda of local people" says Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesperson on Manchester City Council, Councillor Jackie Pearcey.

Councillor Pearcey and Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson Councillor Paul Shannon will propose today, (Wednesday 3rd March 2004), that Manchester City Council freezes its' Council Tax and its' Rent level at this year's rates, and that it begins a war on Town Hall waste, as the Council meets to set its' Budget for the forthcoming financial year (2004/05) starting in April.

Jackie Pearcey added "Manchester's Council Tax and rents have risen year after year, under Labour's Town Hall administration, to being amongst the highest in the country. Astonishingly on top of this Labour bosses now want to spend another one million pounds on the troubled Urbis museum and an extra half a million pounds to promote council house sell-offs, whilst continuing to pay out millions on expensive payments to employment agencies for staff when taking on permanent staff could be cheaper. This is not the approach of a careful Council! The Liberal Democrat Budget proposals, which all Councillors will vote on today, give Manchester Council taxpayers and tenants a break from yet another increase whilst reallocating resources to key priorities for the city."

Councillor John Bridges, who will second a Liberal Democrat amendment to Labour's Budget, said "Labour Finance Chiefs in Manchester have not tried hard enough to keep spending down and to allocate money to the top priorities of Manchester people. It is perfectly possible, with extra money definitely coming in from various sources, to keep our Council Tax and rents as they are, and to address major issues like poorly maintained pavements and keeping the city clean not just for 100 days but all year round!"

Liberal Democrats in Manchester would make sure that far more Council money is spent at ward level, in our communities, on local priorities such as:-

• Turning round the crazy situation whereby more money is spent on trip compensation than on repairing our pavements. We would spend five million pounds more on improving footpaths and highways.

• Tackling local grot spots day in day out. We would provide sufficient money to each ward for an extra street cleaner.

• Supporting local people in their fight against crime and anti-social behaviour with an extra three million pounds for youth initiatives and security measures such as gating.

Councillor Jackie Pearcey will tell the City Council "Manchester can be better than it is if we concentrate on the grassroots initiatives that will make our city safer, greener and cleaner. With local people helping to make local decisions about the money to be spent on key problems in their area, we will spend more effectively and waste less. We need a 'People's Budget' that connects with their concerns not another Town Hall top-up for Labour's pet schemes. Manchester's strong team of 28 Liberal Democrat City Councillors are united today in supporting an alternative Budget for the city that gives Manchester people a fair deal and more power over local spending."