By Rachel Charman
Cllr Ian Gilbert, Labour councillor for Victoria, has claimed that the budget amendments proposed today by the Cabinet are ‘disguised cuts in services.’
In today’s cabinet meeting, Southend Borough Council proposed an amendment to its draft 2010/11 budget that it claims will boost tax payers.
The Cabinet today recommended to the Council to approve a General Fund net revenue budget for 2010/11 of £130.491 million with a proposed Council Tax increase of 2.95% (which equates to £1,117.89) for Band D properties.
The Cabinet claims that represents a reduction on an earlier proposal, in which Band D properties were recommended for a 3.95% Council Tax increase.
Cllr Gilbert, however, has other views on this particular amendment. He told Councilbust.com:
“This looks like a pre-planned political stunt by the administration.
“I don’t believe that the council has actually found an extra £1million of savings in the past few days, and it clearly shows that Councillor Holdcroft is more concerned about wrong-footing his political opponents than about responsible budget setting.
“My worry is that these alleged savings may actually turn out to be disguised cuts in services, and councillors will not have time to properly scrutinise their impact.â€
