Alternative Budget claim denied

LABOUR councillors have attacked Liberal Democrat Lynne Thompson for criticising the lack of alternative budget proposals.

Councillor Thompson, cabinet member for performance and value for public money, accused the opposition of failing to produce their budget in time for next week’s scrutiny meeting.

The Lib-Dem and Tory coalition which runs Oldham Council revealed its budget proposals to save £15 million next year — and up to £57 million by 2014 — last week.

Councillor Thompson said: “The Labour group say they are committed to Oldham, but they prefer to wash their hands of hard choices, offering nothing during the most challenging budget round Oldham Council has ever faced.

“If they are to put forward an alternative budget in February — the usual practice on Oldham Council — they are leaving it very late to begin tabling proposals.”

But Councillor Jim McMahon, the Labour leader, accused her of ignoring the agreed timetable: “Labour’s alternative budget will be presented in January as in previous years — that isn’t new.

“The demands from the Lib-Dems to present our budget early is a sign perhaps of the sheer desperation they are having balancing the books.”