Budget Proposals - February 2011

This year, as a result of central government policy, we have an unusual situation where no-one is talking about a potential council tax increase.

Instead, we will be debating the differences in our political priorities.

As Liberal Democrats we will be arguing that the most vulnerable in our society must be protected and that even in these austere times, it makes sense to be investing in our future.

As well as identifying areas where we believe we should be investing more, we have also found areas of council spending where we should be saving money.  In these difficult financial times, we must be rigorous in ensuring that we always get the best value for money for the tax payer.

This year’s budget has meant choosing spending priorities for £330 million. We must, and have, at all times remember that this is not our money, but that of the people of Wiltshire.

There is much in the Conservative administration’s budget that we question, and find impossible to support - even with the savage cuts in funding being forced on the council by central government.

However we must accept that, for now, Wiltshire has chosen this administration, so rather than trying to replace the Conservative budget we have proposed a series of amendments which, if accepted, will provide better value for Wiltshire residents and mitigate some of the harshest aspects of the proposed budget.

This document includes all of our amendments to the budget, together with a full explanation and fully costed plan for how they would be financed.

All of our proposals have been signed off by senior officers at the council as being legal, financially sound and possible to implement.

Jon Hubbard
Leader, Wiltshire Council Liberal Democrat Group

 Budget Response, February 2011 (1.1 MB)

Our Budget Proposals in Detail