Following a seven hour budget meeting, that saw amendments from all party’s, Lancaster City Council finally set a budget for the next year. Speaking afterwards Green Group leader Cllr Chris Coates said “The budget that we started with at the beginning of the meeting was bad enough, what we have ended up with is a real dogs-dinner - where ever you live in the District you will be affected one way or another by the cuts in this budget.”
The meeting saw proposals from Labour, Conservatives and Liberal-Democrats to rejig the cuts proposed by cabinet replacing cuts to the Dukes Theatre and Citizens Advice Bureau with cuts that are likely to fall on Summer playschemes and Youth Sports Activities.
Commenting after the meeting Cllr Jane Fletcher said “These cuts to areas of my portfolio are cuts to invaluable services that play a crucial role in supporting and improving both the physical and emotional health of people across the district. These services enrich the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, from disabled people, young people at risk from offending, looked after children, and those in rural areas. This work also helps to pull in well over a million pounds in external funding. Except for Green Party Councillors, political groups were eager to cut these services despite my repeated calls to reconsider in light of the serious implications of their actions”
The Green Party had proposed that the grant to the CAB’s be reinstated by a 10% reduction in management subscriptions to professional journals and organisations. This was rejected by other councillors who preferred to take the money from the Arts and Leisure development budget that funds the playschemes and sports activities.
To reinstate funding for Mayoral expenses, public toilets, The Dome and the Dukes other councillors voted for cuts to playground maintenance, Community Cohesion and the councils Your District Matters Magazine. Cllr Coates added “Whilst some groups have ended up winners, this really has been a case of robbing Janet & John to pay Peter & Paul. Whatever way you look at it this was a bad day for the district.”
