Labour blasts Lib-Dem ‘cigarette packet’ budget

Reporter: Janice Barker
Date online: 08 December 2009

OPPOSITION councillors have criticised Oldham’s ruling Liberal Democrat budget plans as “back of a cigarette packet” proposals.

The first draft was considered by the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee last week.

The Lib-Dems have pledged to keep council tax rises to 2.5 per cent next year, but warned that £45 million has to be saved in total over the next three years. More than 100 jobs could be under threat as a result.

Labour’s Shadow Cabinet member for finance, Councillor Peter Dean, said: “One of the proposals is to save £100,000 on district car parks, yet there are no plans to make a parking order or parking charges and no-one can explain that to me.

“It is clear that no thought has been given to this budget which it would seem was drawn up on the back of a cigarette packet with little regard to its implications.”

The meeting was told to expect details of the cuts in the New Year, but it was revealed that 11 parks and refuse staff would be made redundant along with three social workers.

Oldham’s opposition Labour leader, Councillor Jim McMahon, said: “Over the past few years, the parks department has been reduced from more than 240 personnel to around 85, and yet they continue to keep wielding the axe over them.”

However, Oldham’s Liberal Democrat council leader Howard Sykes hit back saying there was a difference between people and posts — some jobs which might be deleted have been vacant for a long time.

And the job losses in the parks, street scene and refuse department would be made by the staff savings on the alternate weekly collections of rubbish and recyclables, he said.

The budget proposals now go to the Cabinet tomorrow and council on December 16 for the first slice of savings to be agreed and implemented.