BUDGET PROPOSALS ARE FANTASTIC VALUE FOR MONEY SAYS STANTON (Southwark Liberal Democrats)

Southwark Liberal Democrats <info@southwark-libdems.org.uk>

BUDGET PROPOSALS ARE FANTASTIC VALUE FOR MONEY SAYS STANTON

February 14, 2007 12:00 AM

The Liberal Democrat Leader of Southwark Council has hailed the Borough's proposed budget as fantastic value for money. Local tax-payers will be asked for a below inflation increase in the amount of tax that goes to the authority and will see significant improvements to recycling and enforcement services.

"I am delighted that the Liberal Democrat led administration is able to propose a budget which meets out pledge to keep Southwark's Council Tax below the London average and below inflation," said Cllr Nick Stanton, Liberal Democrat Leader of Southwark Council.

"Our increase is in direct contrast with the inflation and cap busting increase proposed by Labour Mayor Ken Livingstone. Under Mayor Ken, the GLA has increased its take by more than four times the amount of Lib Dem led Southwark."

"Our budget is not a standstill budget however. We will see more recycling, both on existing routes and on estates in direct response to requests from local residents."

"In addition, we have also approved an increase in our planning enforcement work to prevent unauthorised building and illegal use of premises. This has been a major bugbear for local residents and we will have put in the funding to secure a doubling of our planning enforcement team."

"We will also be putting more funding into the enforcement of licensing rules. Clubs and bars operating beyond their licensing hours and selling alcohol irresponsibly or illegally are an exacerbating factor in the problem of crime locally and the new money should help to address this."

"The other big growth item is to fund the new Community Development Trust which will be taking over the running of Burgess Park. This demonstrates our commitment to the Camberwell area and to parks to be proud of."

"The Liberal Democrats are determined to secure the best value council services for local people. We believe that this year's budget goes a significant way to securing this."