Opposition Lib Dem councillors are putting forward an alternative to the Labour budget to be looked at and discussed at a scrutiny meeting this coming Friday.

Labour cabinet will determine its budget proposals tomorrow, which will also be looked at at Fridays meeting. Following this, if any agreements can be made to make alterations to the budget, those recommendations will be passed to cabinet members for consideration, with a final budget being put to Full Council on 22nd Feb.

It is probable that Labour will not agree to our amendments, or those of other opposition groups as they never have in the past. If this is the case, then we are likely to put forward a motion calling for amendments to the budget on the 22nd, possibly with other opposition group support, if necessary amending our own proposals – as we see it proper democracy and openness.

If past history is anything to go by Labour will simply refuse all the proposals, but we live in hope.

We put out the following press release yesterday, and will finalise the exact figures following meetings with officers  before Friday.

LIB DEM BUDGET PROPOSALS

DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL

Six to Fix

• Economic Development Fund for training apprentices/students in engineering.
• Fund community centres Labour are consulting on closing.
• Protect frontline jobs in neighbourhood services.
• Funding to reduce Labour’s books and library cuts.
• Additional funding for road and path repairs.
• REMOVED Funding to stop Labour’s recycling centre closures.REMOVED As council can’t provide figures and not in this years budget. Further clarification required.

Liberal Democrat councillors on Durham County Council are to propose alternatives to Labour’s budget. The alternative budget is to be put to the Council’s Scrutiny Committee this Friday where it is hoped there can be wider support for changes to the Labour proposals.

Lib Dem leader Councillor Nigel Martin is keen for cross party support for proposals which include an economic development fund, protection of libraries, and additional road and path maintenance.

He comments “We are currently working with officers to ensure that all aspects of the proposals are affordable. The intention is to get cross party support for proposals which will protect frontline services and provide a boost to the local economy.

“We hope that through open negotiation all opposition groups can feed in the priorities they believe residents want to see. Perhaps, for once we can get the Labour Party onside too in the interests of all residents in County Durham.”

Lib Dems will propose cuts to councillors perks, chopping top heavy management structures including the number of directors, and alternative views on the Council budget to fund their proposals.

Economic Development Fund for training apprentices/students in engineering

One such proposal, spearheaded by Councillor Mark Wilkes, Shadow Regeneration portfolio holder concentrates on apprenticeships.

Cllr Wilkes comments “Recent site visits by councillors have been looking at what can be done to boost engineering and manufacturing apprenticeships. It is essential for this to be at the top of the agenda at County Hall.”

The Lib Dem proposal is for a flexible investment fund to boost engineering apprenticeships. The fund will help local schools with costs to take students to high tech training centres like SW Training in Newton Aycliffe.

It has become clearer in recent months that businesses in the North East are finding it increasingly difficult to get well trained workers.

Cllr Wilkes says “We need to get school age students to see the benefits of working in these professions and also assist over-19s with training and transport costs. This can go a long way to addressing the key skills gap in County Durham and the North East as a whole.”

The coalition government has seen apprenticeships rise to their highest level for a generation with additional funding coming on-stream in the coming months which local Lib Dems believe can be supplemented with local action.

Cllr Wilkes adds “Small firms are struggling to find well trained workers and with Hitachi on the way to the County, we must ensure that as many of our young people as possible are at the top of the list when applying for these jobs.

Stop Labour’s community centre closures.

Lib Dem plans also include increasing funding to improve many community buildings which the council wants local residents to take over.

Durham City Lib Dem councillor David Stoker comments “Labour plans will result in the closure of community buildings because of their failure to invest in them. We are proposing additional funding to help these centres to move forwards. Run by the community, for the community with the backing of County Hall.”

The Council budget currently proposes a fund of £2.15m but this will not be sufficient to help many centres to be repaired and maintained. Lib Dem proposals will mean many more centres can be improved.

Protect dozens of frontline jobs in neighbourhood services.

Garry Huntington, Shildon Lib Dem councillor and Shadow Portfolio Holder for Communities believes that the worst part of Labour plans is the cut to the frontline workforce. Lib Dem proposals include the protection of dozens of staff. Fewer cuts to pest control officers, litter collectors, enforcement officers and wardens are proposed with better working practices and efficiencies.

Cllr Huntington comments “County Hall is top heavy with management. Labour want to cut the frontline people our residents rely on week in, week out. The Lib Dem budget will protect these positions  by tackling over management and waste.”

Stop Labour’s books and library cuts.

Durham County Council’s Labour Party budget includes cutting a third off the library book fund and reducing library opening hours in some cases by nearly 50%.

Lib Dem portfolio holder for Libraries and lifelong learning Cllr Amanda Hopgood comments “These Labour proposals go against everything we stand for.”

“Our budget proposals protect these key library services. We know the funding is there. Labour are setting fire to the books budget and will leave some libraries barely open. It is simply not necessary. Their priority is wasting taxpayers money. Our priorities include protecting libraries and education.

Additional funding for road and path repairs.

Lib Dem proposals include an additional investment into road and footpath repairs. Durham County Council has millions of pounds worth of backlog in repairs. Lib Dem councillor Ben Ord has committed local funding this year to repair paths in his area and says more needs to be done by the Council.

The Spennymoor and Middlestone Moor councillor comments “One of the biggest issues in our county is the state of our roads and footpaths. It is essential that we have proper investment in them. The additional funding we are proposing will go some way to address years of Labour under investment.

Councillors will discuss Labour and opposition proposals this Friday at a joint meeting of Corporate Issues and Overview Scrutiny Boards.

Lib Dems believe that residents in County Durham want a cross party consensus of independent, Lib Dem, Conservative and Labour councillors.

In previous years not one single proposal from opposition councillors of any political background hs been accepted leading to complaints that the Labour Party is running Durham’s new Unitary Authority as a dictatorship.

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Perhaps this week they can show that this isn’t a dictatorship.