The South Glos Post

Labour councillors in South Gloucestershire last night voted against the ruling Conservatives’ budget package, arguing that they were being asked to sign a blank cheque because of the lack of critical detail it contained.

In a speech to the Council, Labour Leader Cllr Andy Perkins pinpointed his party’s concerns about the 2012/13 budget in terms of its lack of transparency, lack of detail and future sustainability, saying:

“Labour supports the Council Tax freeze but the ruling Conservatives have not been open that this has only been possible due to £5.6m worth of sweeteners from central government for setting a zero council tax. Without these sweeteners the Conservatives would have to raise Council Tax this year by 5.0% in order to balance the books – and that, under their new Localism Act, would trigger a local referendum.”

The single largest component to balancing the budget is a series of Transformation Reviews which will deliver £43m of savings over the next three years. However, the detail of what this will mean in terms of services, charges and staff has not been spelt out to councillors.

More: "Lack of detail" condemned by Labour councillors »

Source: South Gloucestershire Labour

Liberal Democrats on South Gloucestershire Council will propose budget amendments to a meeting of Full Council on Wednesday (22nd February), committing the authority to a zero increase in council tax, protecting front-line services, and devolving more of its money to local decision-making.

Ruth Davis, Leader of the council’s opposition, said:

“We live in difficult financial times; we all know that more cuts in funding are coming, and the challenge facing this authority is how we deal with them. The Liberal Democrat group wants to ensure that South Gloucestershire residents continue to see a good service from their council, and don’t suffer from cuts to front-line services.”

“If our amendment passes, not only will there be no council tax increase, but the administration will be challenged to prioritise efficiency savings, back-office functions, and other ways of making savings without impacting the vital functions that our residents see and use every day.”

“We’re asking the executive to look at devolving powers and budgets to the existing Area Forums, so local people can come and have direct involvement into the priorities they want to work on for their streetcare, their road schemes, and other projects, as they do now when grants and road schemes are considered. We think that local communities have a better idea of what needs to be done in their areas – and if our plan passes, the existing Area Forums will have the responsibilities and the budgets to put these plans into action working with local Parish and Town Councils, local organisations and other partners.”

More: Party has identified funding to pay for extra meetings »

Source: Liberal Democrat Group on South Gloucestershire Council

Press release by South Gloucestershire Labour

A local MP earned almost £14,000 as advanced payments for book-writing deals in the first six months after his election.

The latest edition of the Register of MPs’ Financial Interests shows that Conservative MP for Kingswood, Chris Skidmore, was paid almost £14,000 in four separate deals between May and October 2010. The largest of these up-front deals was for almost £9,900 and the smallest just over £500.  One book deal worth £2,800 up front is requiring Mr Skidmore to work 15 hours a week for two years on top of the hours he is supposed to work as an MP.

The MPs’ register also shows that two speeches made by Mr Skidmore have earned him £3,500 from a firm of pharmaceutical lobbyists called STAC Consultancy, based in Bournemouth.  Mr Skidmore, who is a member of the House of Commons Health Select Committee, has donated the £3,500 to his local Conservative constituency party in Kingswood.

Kingswood councillor and leader of the Labour Group on South Gloucestershire Council, Andy Perkins, said:

“Clearly Mr Skidmore is not spending all of his working hours dealing with his constituents’ problems.  How many employers do you know who would allow their employees to spend at least 15 hours a week writing books?”

Money earned from speeches should go to local charities says Labour councillor »

Source: South Gloucestershire Labour

A South Gloucestershire council building which has recently received a multi-million pound makeover could lie half-empty when it re-opens, and senior Labour councillor Terry Walker is challenging the ruling Tories over the reduced number of staff now scheduled to work at Kingswood Civic Centre.

The council has embarked on a major accommodation strategy with a view to consolidating its headquarters in three main building and vacating expensive leased office space.  As part of the strategy, staff moved out of Kingswood Civic Centre in the Spring of 2010 to enable the multi-million pound upgrade.  This upgrade will provide a smarter One Stop Shop, which also houses a local police presence, a new council chamber and committee rooms, and modern office accommodation for the returning staff.  However, a reduction in staff numbers since the project was planned, combined with recent decisions to divert a large number of staff the council had planned to house there to other offices, means that the new building could be half empty.

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Source: Labour Councillors on South Gloucestershire Council