Worthing Lib Dem's call on the town's Conservative MP's to explain their failure to oppose poor deal for our local Council's (South East Region Liberal Democrats)

South East Region Liberal Democrats <info@southeastlibdems.org.uk>

Worthing Lib Dem's call on the town's Conservative MP's to explain their failure to oppose poor deal for our local Council's

February 12, 2008 5:12 AM

LIBERAL Democrats in Worthing are calling on Tim Loughton and Peter Bottomley to explain why they sat on the fence when a cash settlement for Worthing and Adur Council's that is below the average rise given to other councils was agreed by the House of Commons.

Both Worthing's MP's abstained rather than voted against the proposal for Worthing & Adur Council's to have a rise of only 1% and the County Council just 2% all less than the average of 3.6%.

The low rise in the amount of money from central government to help pay towards Worthing and Adur's costs will mean a tight year ahead for local services, made worse by the Tory Council's decision to press ahead with the costly "merger" of staff for both authorities.

Cllr Bob Smytherman (Worthing Lib Dem Group Leader) said .

"The rise fails to take into account inflation and the additional costs of services the government requires councils to provide such as the national concessionary bus scheme."

"The end result is that both Tory-run council's are being forced to increase council tax above inflation and cut services , the very least our MP's could do is to support their Tory Councillor's!"

" I find it remarkable that our MP's failed to oppose this poor deal and make a stand for Worthing and Adur. Local residents and council tax payers are now owed an explanation."

"It seems that the Conservatives are failing to mount a strong challenge to the Labour government and are content to sit back and let Gordon Brown's Labour government get on with things. The only party to vote against the council cash plans in Parliament and stand up for local residents were the Liberal Democrats."