Southwark Liberal Democrats Call for Review into Council Tax Rise and Protections for the Most Vulnerable
Southwark’s main scrutiny committee met on Tuesday evening to make recommendations regarding the council’s proposed 2023-24 budget.
Liberal Democrat members of the committee, Cllr Irina von Wiese (vice-chair) and Cllr Victor Chamberlain, submitted the recommendations of the Lib Dem opposition.
Southwark Labour plans to increase council tax by the legal maximum of 5%, despite issuing a guarantee to residents that the party would ‘keep council tax low’.
Lib Dem committee members insisted that the council must consult residents before raising council tax to reflect the additional financial pressure on the people of Southwark.
Southwark’s budget proposals include heavy cuts to key social services. The council’s ‘cumulative equality analysis’ admits that some of these cuts will have ‘negative impacts’ on those relying on these vital services.
In particular, the council has a proposed a £1.1m cut to ‘respite care’ – a provision by the council which allows carers to take hugely beneficial short breaks.
The Lib Dem group has demanded that any savings that will have a negative impact on vulnerable groups be removed from the budget, with savings being found elsewhere.
These recommendations are in line with a letter sent to the committee by the Equality and Human Rights Panel in Southwark, who raised serious concerns about the impact of these cuts to the most vulnerable groups in Southwark.
Additionally, the Lib Dem recommendations insisted that support for the voluntary sector must be increased, to ensure the organisations that provide support for the most vulnerable are supported themselves.
As part of the budget, the council has proposed raising the bulky waste charge from £25 to £35.
Citing the rise in fly-tipping since the bulky waste charge was introduced, the Lib Dem group has recommended scrapping this increase in order to ensure there is no further rise in fly-tipping and help keep Southwark’s streets clean.
Lib Dem councillors also highlighted areas the council could save money or generate income in order to relieve pressure on vital services.
Recommendations included better use of the council’s resources (such as office space), increased on-street advertising and removing unnecessary spending commitments.
The 2023-24 budget will be finalised and agreed at a full council meeting on 22nd February 2023.
Commenting Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr Victor Chamberlain said:
“We understand that, with the current economic turmoil caused by this inept and uncaring Conservative government, the council must make difficult choices. However, the choices faced by the most vulnerable in our borough are far more severe.
Labour’s budget is not good enough and does not adequately protect those who will be choosing between heating and eating. It is putting too many of our most vulnerable neighbours at risk.
Consultation with affected groups has been woefully inadequate during the budget setting process. The Labour administration is breaking an election promise from just eight months ago to keep council tax low. The council must engage properly with Southwark residents if it wants to break this promise and raise council tax which will see household budgets squeezed even tighter.
The proposed cuts to council support for children, families and carers will be devastating for the most vulnerable people in Southwark. Labour has even admitted their cuts will have negative impacts on those who need these services.
Increasing waste collection fees at this time will only exacerbate the fly tipping chaos we already suffer from and hurt the poorest residents hardest. It will also cost the Council even more in the long run when we’re having to clean up even more fly tipping from our streets.
This Labour administration must think again and look at the other options available to protect our most vulnerable residents.”
You can view the Lib Dem group's budget recommendations submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) here.