 |
 |
-
Documents Folder containing 114 files-
Bargate Ward Folder containing 5 files -
Bassett Ward Folder containing 1 file
-
Bevois Ward Folder containing 2 files
-
Bitterne Park Ward Folder containing 11 files
-
Bitterne Ward Folder containing 1 file
-
Coxford Ward Folder containing 9 files
-
Harefield Ward Folder containing 1 file
-
Millbrook Ward Folder containing 4 files
-
Peartree Ward Folder containing 26 files
-
Portswood Ward Folder containing 14 files
-
Redbridge Ward Folder containing 3 files
-
Sholing Ward Folder containing 1 file
-
Swaythling Ward Folder containing 5 files
-
Woolston Ward Folder containing 4 files
-
Itchen_2008_1 
532.96 KiB drawing or desktop publishing document -
Itchen_2009_1 379.32 KiB drawing or desktop publishing document
-
Itchen_2010_1 915.73 KiB drawing or desktop publishing document
-
Lib Dem Budget Amendment 98 KiB spreadsheet -
Lib Dem Group Amendment 41.5 KiB text or word processing document -
Lib Dems in Government 183.21 KiB drawing or desktop publishing document
-
Liberal Democrat South East local election manifesto 2012 1.13 MiB drawing or desktop publishing document
-
Liberal Democrats – our manifesto in practise 210.17 KiB drawing or desktop publishing document
-
SOUTHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL BUDGET 2011/12 - LIBERAL DEMOCRAT GROUP BUDGET PROPOSALS
160.5 KiB spreadsheet
THE FAIRER, GREENER, SAFER ALTERNATIVE
The Liberal Democrat Group recognises the exceptional challenge in setting a budget for 2010/11 as a result of the national financial crisis left by Labour. This challenge is all the more severe for the scale of the contribution required of local government in the first year. Significant pain for our citizens and our employees alike is inevitable.
However the Council's Conservative Administration has opted to add avoidable pain to the inevitable by proposing unnecessarily deep cuts to services this year, while building a 'war chest' for future years.
The Liberal Democrats believe we should be doing all we can to smooth the transition and soften the blow in this harshest first year.
We have identified over £6 millions which can be used to protect the most vital front-line services and keep 50 more staff who deliver them for the most vulnerable people. [See Notes 1 & 2 below]
The sacrifice demanded of Council staff by the Conservative Administration, with pay and pension cuts on top of freezing all increments and inflation allowances, is excessive, unfairly distributed and unworkable. It will encourage the best staff to seek posts elsewhere, incur massive redundancy costs, involve the Council in direct conflict with schools, put us at risk of expensive equal pay litigation and provoke a damaging 'industrial' dispute. As a result the Council will achieve at best only a fraction of the anticipated savings, at huge cost to our communities.
Instead the Liberal Democrat budget asks staff to make a more proportionate sacrifice, with the loss of 'fringe benefits' and a pay 'freeze' but stopping short of demanding direct pay cuts. Councillors should however set an example by accepting a cut in their allowances.
Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr Adrian Vinson says: ''Southampton Tories are hell-bent on putting their sacred cows before vital front-line services for our community.
'The Lib Dem package supports the most vulnerable such as children in need, the disabled, poor and bereaved. It bolsters our communities and the voluntary effort essential to make any sort of reality of the Big Society, moves forward the 'green' agenda, and reduces rather than adding to unemployment.'
Continued
NOTE 1: HOW WE WILL SAVE MONEY
We would:
● Cut deeper into 'back office' budgets such as communications, office supplies and spending on courses and seminars
● Withdraw the unfair £1 million Council Tax rebates for pensioners (irrespective of their means) and Special Constables
● Use windfalls and un-ringfenced grant to smooth the shortfall
● Draw on reserves in the short term (while staying within the minimum guideline for Balances)
● Prioritise bringing forward savings in the pipe-line (including services delivered by Capita).
NOTE 2: SERVICES WE WILL PROTECT
The savings we have identified would be used to give added protection to key front-line services, including:
● educational standards, behaviour in schools and truancy
● constructive activities for young people, eg free swimming for under 9s
● help with the housing waiting list
● maintaining bus services
● promoting community safety
● freezing charges for meals-on-wheels and burials
● keeping free visitor parking permits and green waste collections
● retaining discounts for disabled drivers on the Itchen Bridge
● preventing closure of public toilets
● maintaining our library services
● tackling litter and graffiti
● supporting the voluntary sector
● promoting healthy living
More money would be invested in road and pavement repairs, and Xmas lights brought back to the city centre with matching funding from businesses.
ENDS
(For full details of the Lib Dem budget see: www.southamptonlibdems.org.uk
For further information please contact: Cllr Adrian Vinson, Leader Southampton City Council Liberal Democrat Group, email: councillor.a.vinson@southampton.gov.uk; telephone 02380 555660 / 07710526708
-
Southampton Guardian - 042006 759.62 KiB drawing or desktop publishing document
-
Southampton Liberal Democrats Manifesto 2012 1.12 MiB drawing or desktop publishing document
-
Southampton Test 20100130 2.26 MiB drawing or desktop publishing document
-
Southampton_policy_briefing_2010 366.29 KiB drawing or desktop publishing document
-
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats
-
Help out or donate
-
Tell us what you think