Tories All Spin And No Delivery, Says Jerry Roodhouse

10.06.02pm GMT Wed 9th Feb 2005

After a marathon 10 hour debate at Shire Hall yesterday to set the Council Tax and budgets for 2005/06, "All spin and no delivery" was how Cllr. Jerry Roodhouse (Lib Dem Leader) described the Conservative performance.

He said:

"Before the meeting the Conservatives claimed they were prepared to negotiate on any proposals to keep the Council Tax down - but when the Lib Dems put forward ideas which would have kept the tax at 2.78%, (below the Conservatives' own proposal of 2.79% & £17,000 difference), the Tories refused to back us with their votes."

County Leader Jerry Roodhouse slammed the Tory intransigence. "I was disappointed that the Conservatives refused to remove a £400,000 cut to Social Services. We were prepared to compromise on other details to deliver a low council tax, but were not prepared to hit services to some of our most vulnerable people."

The Labour administration was told by the Liberal Democrat group to lower its proposed council tax levels and they offered amendments reducing their council tax offer from 3.75% to 3.69% then to 3.49% and 3.25% before finally offering 2.96%.

The Tories also went up from their original figure but did not reduce the cuts to social services enough. he Tories also tabled an amendment of 2.96%. Following lengthy discussions the Labour group agreed with the Liberal Democrats to a budget that saw extra resources going into services and social service money kept.

The day finally ended up with a compromise budget of 2.96% being accepted and the Tories voting against the extra money for services in Warwickshire.