Budget: smoke, mirrors and a pint of real ale

Oldham Council meeting
LABOUR was accused of smoke and mirrors as plans to cut £24.5 million from Oldham’s budget came under attack.

Opposition councillors criticised the ruling party — saying that the saving for 2012/13 included many vague one-liners.

Labour was also criticised for going back on its promise to put an extra £3.5 million into adult social services while finding nearly £5,000 for Oldham Beer Festival.

Opposition leader Howard Sykes said: “While we can agree with much of this budget, Labour once again postpones or hides decisions on the more controversial matters, like shutting or cutting opening hours for libraries; funding the voluntary sector, cutting the priority programme; increasing pest control charges, and attacking staff terms and conditions.

“Our Lib-Dem priority fund had clearly set out transparent priorities, putting money into street-cleaning, weeding and cleaning gullies. His (council Leader Jim McMahon) priority fund appears to be a back-pocket fund for pet projects.

“As heart warming and enjoyable as the beer festival is, and I have been known to visit it, I fail to see why council taxpayers should be asked to subsidise the event so that CAMRA (Campaign For Real Ale) can contribute a similar amount to the mayor’s fund.”

Conservative leader Jack Hulme said he was not belittling the problems faced but criticised proposals such as not paying staff for the first three days of sickness and changes to youth services and libraries.

He said many were vague or fudged and added: “It is quite difficult to comment in any details on many of the details in this report as there’s an element of smoke and mirrors and suck it and see to most of them.”

But the Lib-Dems and Tories were criticised for not offering any alternative and Councillor McMahon said “All we are trying to do in minimise the impact on services and managing it in the best possible way we can. This isn’t a choice between give-aways and gimmicks. It’s about falling off a cliff or just clinging on.

Councillor Abdul Jabbar, cabinet member for finance, said that the council had detailed 90 per cent of its saving before Christmas for the first time.

He added “The settlement we have got from the Government is one of the most challenging since the Second World War. What we have to do is get on with the challenge of balancing our budget.

“The extent of the cuts required by Oldham Council means we have to make very difficult decisions.”

Labour councillors voted in favour of the council proposals, the three Conservatives voted against and the Lib-Dems abstained.