Lib Dems call for rethink on Council’s Finance Plans

Liberal Democrat Councillors have called on Hinckley & Bosworth's
Conservative administration to go back to the drawing board on their
financial plans for the next three years.

The Council's Scrutiny Commission considered the Council's Medium Term
Financial Strategy at its meeting last Thursday.

Lib Dem Opposition Leader Cllr Stuart Bray (Lib Dem, Hinckley Castle)
proposed that the report be sent back to the Council's Executive as none
of the options proposed were acceptable.

The report asked councillors to pick from a range of options which
included charging for charging for green waste collection.

Cllr Bray said, "Every year when the Lib Dems ran the Council we came
forward with a plethora of ideas to save money including sharing
services with other councils and moving to cheaper accommodation whilst
at the same time we maintained front-line services and kept Council Tax
down.

"After less than a year in charge, the Conservatives are proposing
record-high Council Tax levels and are cutting services.

"Local taxpayers face the prospect being hit hard by a Tory triple
whammy. As Tory Ministers in Westminster cut council funding,
Conservative Councillors at Leicestershire County Council and Hinckley
and Bosworth Borough Council will be hitting local residents with
inflation-busting tax rises. With the Tories in charge at all levels,
there is nobody else for them to blame."

Hinckley and Bosworth Councillors will consider the budget at its
meeting on February 18th. Leicestershire County Councillors meet on
February 17th.

The Local Government Association has warned of even harsher central
government cuts to council finances in the coming years.