County Council budget slammed by Lib Dem opposition

Liberal Democrat County Councillors have set out their opposition to the Conservative run County Council's budget.

The budget will be debated on Wednesday and includes a 3.99% Council Tax rise and cuts to services including bus subsidies.

Opposition leader Cllr Simon Galton said "This is the first year since I got elected to the County Council in 1989 that the Council will receive no revenue grant from the Government. Which means local services will be funded entirely by council tax and business rates. Although they have managed to balance the budget this year the Tories plan appears to be keep fingers crossed and hope their Government will be more generous to Leicestershire in future years"

Lib Dem Finance spokesman County Councillor Michael Mullaney said "This is another cost more, deliver less budget from the Conservative County Council. People will be hit with another big Council Tax rise this year while essential services like buses face huge cuts.

"Many people in rural parts of Leicestershire have contacted me and colleagues concerned about cuts to rural buses. The Conservatives must listen and give bus services the support they need.

"Why are people in Leicestershire facing tax rises and service cuts again? It's because of the complete failure of the Conservative County Council and local Conservative MPs to get fair funding for our county. Leicestershire is the worst funded county in the country, so long as that continues people in Leicestershire will face high tax rises and savage service cuts."