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County budget agreed but one councillor calls the process a sham
21/02/2024
Liberal Democrat and Green Councillors agreed to Labour amendments
After a marathon meeting yesterday, Councillors at Oxfordshire County Council have set a budget –but one political group called the final agreement a sham.
The budget was voted through when councillors from the ruling Liberal Democrat and Green alliance accepted a set of amendments proposed by the Labour Group, with whom they had jointly controlled the authority until last September.
Early in the meeting the minority Liberal Democrat and Green Alliance Administration presented their budget to the meeting. The Council’s Leader, Councillor Liz Leffman, said their focus was on reducing traffic and encouraging sustainable travel. She highlighted her group’s pledge.
Councillor Leffman said: “We know that we cannot rely on the present government and we cannot predict the approach of any future government. So it is up to us with our partners here in Oxfordshire to find a way to make our county a greener, fairer and healthier place for people to live and work. This budget fulfils that commitment.”
An alternative budget had been tabled by the Conservatives, with more money for children’s services, adult social care and SEND, but a cut of funding for projects such as the zero emission zones. They also wanted more work on the county’s roads, gulleys and ditches via a targeted Potholes and Drainage Fund.
Labour also proposed amendments to the administration’s plans with money from the council’s reserves and borrowing used to fund some of the ideas, which included money for social services, SEND, and fixing the roads.
Labour Councillor Liz Brighouse told the meeting: “Setting a budget for Oxfordshire County Council was never going to be easy this year. Local authority budgets have been hollowed out over the last 13 years. Recent government decisions have almost crushed our economy, put a squeeze on working people and have increased the demand for key statutory services.
“It is these significant challenges that are the focus of the amendment by the Labour and Cooperative group.”
After hours of debate the meeting, which had started at half past ten, was adjourned late in the afternoon so negotiations between the groups could take place.
When the meeting reconvened early in the evening it was announced the Liberal Democrat and Green alliance had agreed to accept Labour’s amendments. A document detailing the new budget was circulated to councillors. Conservative Councillor Eddie Reeves said his group were not happy with the situation accusing both Labour and the Liberal Democrats of increasing borrowing and public taxation.
He said: “This is an exercise in democracy … which the Chinese Communist Party would be proud. It is a complete and utter sham.
“A deal has been done, seemingly weeks in the making. Their Plan B – this Administration’s Plan B – was always to swallow whole the Labour amendment to this budget, irrespective of its content.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam