Lib Dems: ‘We didn’t nick Labour’s budget!’

Published: 5 February 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

THE Lib Dems have made a dramatic U-turn on their pledge to scrap free school meals for all primary schoolchildren in a last-minute budget climbdown.

Labour councillors have accused them of “nicking our budget” after the ruling party unveiled a giveaway budget ahead of May’s elections.

Pay cuts for councillors, a council tax freeze and free school meals for all primary school children are among the key headline promises the Lib Dems unveiled exclusively to the Tribune this week.

Council leader ­Terry Stacy has reluctantly gone back on his party’s pledge to scrap universal free school meals if they win the election. He also promised the £100 council tax discount for all over 65s will continue for a second year.

But opposition Labour councillors believe the budget is an admission of defeat. Labour finance spokes­man Councillor Richard Greening said: “Cllr Stacy’s given up attempting to run the council. They’ve essentially withdrawn any changes to our proposals.”

Labour’s education spokesman Richard Watts said: “This is the budget we’ve been discussing for three months. The Lib Dems have simply nicked our budget. It’s a signal they have no confidence that they have the ability to get their own through the council.”

But Cllr Stacy insists the budget is their own. He said: “We called for the council tax freeze at last year’s budget. We’ve delivered what residents wanted. We’ve supported the old and vulnerable with the pensioners bud­get – how can I be ­nicking their budget?”

Last February’s fierce budget fight saw the Lib Dems pitted against Labour as residents were asked which would they prefer: a council tax freeze and a £100 discount for pensioners, as offered by the ruling party, or universal free school meals as championed by the opposition.

Labour seized control of the budget on a knife-edge vote and free school meals were introduced to six primary schools on a pilot basis.

The Lib Dems had lost their majority following the sudden illness of Bunhill ward councillor Donna Boffa and former finance chief Cllr Andrew Cornwell’s decision to break ranks and stand as an independent Lib Dem.

Until now, the Lib Dems have stalled on extending free meals to all primary schools,  claiming the money would be better spent on lower income families and children from secondary schools.

Now, Cllr Stacy has revealed his party has developed an alternative scheme – Fair School Meals, involving secondary school pupils as well – but in the meantime will not block the extension of universal free meals. He said: “We need government approval to do this and as we’re going to be forced to go through all this red tape, I’m not going to block the roll-out of free school meals.”

Cllr Stacy has promised to cut £500 from all councillors’ allowances, an extra £500 cut to cabinet members’ allowances and has already an­nounced a programme of cuts to the council’s own budget, including losing 100 council posts. One significant cut will be the loss of a member of staff from both the Lib Dem and Labour group offices.

Cllr Stacy has also pledged to cover the funding gap for Freedom Passes and, along with Labour leader Councillor Catherine West, guaranteed they will not change the eligibility requirements for disabled users. He has also rejected proposals by the Town Hall’s finance directors to cut the Plus Bus ser­vice for elderly and disabled residents.

Cllr Stacy added: “I’m delighted that we’re going to freeze the council tax. Thousands of people have signed our petition to cut council tax so I’m going to listen to them.”

Rebel Lib Dem councillor Andrew Cornwell said that the budget being presented to next week’s executive meeting will be proposed by civil servants and not by Lib Dem finance chief Councillor John Gilbert.

Former finance chief Councillor Cornwell said: “I think it’s the first time it’s happened since we’ve had a cabinet system. It’s a litle extraordinary that the executive member is not presenting his proposals – he seems a be lame duck. The fact we have the civil service budget reflects the weakness of the position. It’s a sign that they are very weak – with a key policy they don’t agree with going to the executive they control.”