Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrats propose 0% increase in Council Tax for 2009-2010

Councillor Eaton discusses crime prevention with an officer in an Idea Store

Tower Hamlets Liberal Democrats have prioritised overcrowded homes, GCSE results, employment, reducing obesity and fear of crime in our budget for the next year. We have invested in these areas and made some savings that will not impact on the service given to residents or our reserves. This has enabled us to propose no increase in Council tax for the forthcoming year.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr Stephanie Eaton commented: "It is a difficult time with much of the economy in turmoil. We feel that this is not the time to be putting further financial stress on residents by raising Council tax. At the same time, the services that the Council offers to residents are more and more important in an economic downturn. It is essential that investment is made in helping people into employment, ensuring the Borough's children, especially looked after children, gain qualifications that give them the best possible start in life. We are concerned about the long term health and well being implications of the rise in childhood obesity in the borough and the immediate crisis of too many families living in grossly overcrowded homes. Our budget would increase the number of police officers working in the borough and encourage more engagement between older people and younger people to reduce fear of crime. This budget delivers what the people of Tower Hamlets want, good services without an increase in Council Tax"

The budget motion is reproduced below:

Liberal Democrat budget motion 2009/2010

1. This Council notes that:

Liberal Democrats have identified the following priorities for the budget of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in 2009/2010

A. Reducing overcrowding

B. Raising GCSE results (especially for looked after children)

C. Reducing levels of unemployment

D. Tackling crime and the fear of crime

E. Reducing the generation of waste

F. Tackling childhood obesity

Liberal Democrats have listened to residents and propose a 0% increase in Council tax with no reduction in services or financial reserves. This motion makes no amendment to the Cabinet proposals for the capital programme.

In relation to the Cabinet's proposals and our priorities:

A. Liberal Democrats know that living in grossly overcrowded housing affects many people directly and indirectly, and we believe that the current level of overcrowding in Tower Hamlets is unacceptable. We welcome the substantial additional investment that this budget proposes to tackle this problem.

B. Despite improvements we are still failing to meet our targets for GCSE results and increased resources in this area are needed and welcome. The results for looked after children are a concern, and we would ensure there is an increased focus on academic support for this small but vulnerable group of young people.

C. Liberal Democrats have listened to residents' demands for a more visible police presence in public spaces and a faster and more reliable system of response to residents' calls - both emergency and non emergency. We consider that this requires more than the purchase of additional officers and more CCTV provision, welcome though these are. Liberal Democrats believe that in order to reduce crime and fear of crime this Council should work with partners to increase informal and recreational contact between people of different ages. Reducing the fear of crime is not achieved just through having more police or CCTV cameras - it is achieved through the creation of communities where people know and trust each other and are not afraid of challenging inappropriate behaviour.

D. Liberal Democrats believe that the Cabinet's priority of reducing levels of youth unemployment is unjustified, uneconomic and discriminatory. An unemployed person of any age deserves this Council's support as much as a young person entering the job market for the first time. Liberal Democrats would ensure that Council efforts to reduce unemployment are targeted at residents of all age groups.

E. This Council is spending a great deal of time, effort and money in its efforts to raise levels of recycling. That is admirable and we support this continued effort. But recycling is not the best thing we can do to support the environment as recycling requires resources of transport and energy which contribute to global warming. It is much better to reduce the amount of waste that is generated in the first place. Liberal Democrats would re-direct this Council's attention towards making Tower Hamlets the London borough that produces the least amount of waste.

F. Liberal Democrats recognise that there is ongoing work with partners in the NHS to address the crisis that we are facing with obesity. Through medium term financial planning we would investigate the opportunities for creating a healthier community by exercising controls on the licensing of fast food outlets, exploring the potential of providing free school meals for all secondary students, supporting parents who are obese to prevent their children from becoming obese, increasing natural activity (walking to shops, schools, etc.) and encouraging physical activity that is not competitive sport (e.g. dance and climbing).

2. This Council proposes:

In addition to the proposals of the Cabinet;

I. To provide funding for the Skillsmatch programme from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund contingency instead of from the Council's Budget Requirement, saving £428,000.

II. Subject to a separate Council decision, to freeze all Members Allowances and to reduce all Special Responsibility Allowances by 50%, saving £156,000.

III. To promote existing social enterprise organisations operating locally who facilitate the exchange, repair and re-use of electrical and other office equipment, household furniture and other items. To ask officers to investigate the feasibility of establishing a commercial and/or domestic re-use centre to reduce the amount of waste generated in the borough thus reducing the amount and cost of waste that is recycled or sent to landfill.

3. This Council proposes:

In place of the proposals of the Cabinet;

IV. To set the inflation amount for 2009/10 at £5.209m, representing a 2% inflationary increase on all budgets (except for Children's Services non-pay budgets which, at the Director of Children's Services recommendation, under savings proposal SAV/CS/03 (Running Costs) is already set at 0% for 2009/10).

V. In consequence of the above, to set the Budget Requirement at £296,329,000 and the Council Tax at band D at £865.64 for 2009/10, with no increase in the Council Tax for 2008/09.

Moved by Councillor Stephanie Eaton

Seconded by Councillor Tim O'Flaherty