Lib-Dem ‘budget for the citizens’

Oldham Council scrutiny committee
OLDHAM’S Lib-Dem group was accused of tinkering around the edges of the ruling Labour group’s budget for 2012/13, with alternative proposals affecting only 0.35 per cent of its content.

Proposals put forward by the Lib-Dems affected less than £1 million of Labour’s budget plans, in a year when it must make savings of £25.4 million.

Lib-Dem leader Howard Sykes admitted the lion’s share of his group’s budget was no different than Labour’s, as the council finds itself battling against a “very difficult” year, but said the differences, although small, were the result of listening to what Oldham residents wanted.

He described the Lib-Dem’s alternative budget as a “Citizen’s budget,” saving areas from the axe it believed were important to the borough, and paying for them by making administrative savings, increasing revenue from hiring out public halls, and the loss of eight administrative jobs.

But it did allow for extra frontline staff to be employed — two gully teams to target flooding and preventing “potholes from turning into craters”; two extra enforcement officers to tackle litter and fly tipping, and £135,000 for more Street Scene staff to keep Oldham clean.

Labour councillors, however, disagreed, saying the tough financial position the council finds itself in did not allow the luxury of employing people to clear up after residents.

Councillor Sykes also suggested making £550,000 savings over the next four years by contracting out care services at Medlock Care Home — a policy already followed in many council services.

That received criticism from Labour’s Councillor David Houle, who said the in-house team had received high praise from the Quality Care Commission for providing an excellent standard of care.

Alternative budget proposals want to see £32,000 saved by axing the roles of deputy and shadow deputy cabinet members, but Councillor Steven Bashforth said the idea was short-sighted.

He said councillors were not professionals and he would rather see the money spent to prepare them for making difficult and important decisions, rather than them making mistakes and potentially costing the council much more.

The Lib-Dems also want to see Labour’s proposal to shut Oldham and Chadderton Libraries and Gallery Oldham on Sundays reversed.

But they did propose a £100,000 cut to the borough’s book fund, a move which Councillor Houle said was contradictory. He said: “What’s the use of having libraries open on Sundays if there are no books on the shelves to lend out,” he asked.

Councillor Sykes said: “We think it’s essential to keep the gallery and libraries open on Sundays.

He added: “We believe our budget is realistic, balanced and deliverable.”

Lib-Dem Councillor Sykes and finance spokesman Councillor Lynn Thompson defended their group’s proposals against Labour opposition, with the Lib-Dem leader saying: “We have made some difficult decisions in order to invest in the areas we believe are important, but our budget is good for democracy.

“We have made our choices, you have made yours.”