Bad News for Leeds residents from Pre-Budget Report (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Bad News for Leeds residents from Pre-Budget Report

December 9, 2009 12:00 AM

Cllr Richard Brett, Leader of the Lib Dem Group on Leeds City Council and Joint Leader of the Council has expressed grave reservations about planned 'savings' in today's pre budget report.

Cllr Brett said :- "However the Chancellor dresses up his report the fact is that the savings he has proposed will mean real hardship for many. Some of the savings targets for local government he announced can only be achieved by real cuts in services.

"Local Councils such as Leeds who have already cut out the fat in their spending, as the Audit Commission recognised earlier today, cannot just magic up additional savings. The Government is giving us less flexibility to deliver value for money - and this will mean the vulnerable may suffer. The Government needs to look at it's own failure to achieve targeted efficiency savings at Whitehall, and not to those who have succeeded in making efficiencies in the past to find even more cash.

"There are a few crumbs of more welcome news - the fact that the Chancellor has recognised that local government and city regions have a vital role in driving local economic outcomes; and that they will continue to work on a framework for Tax Increment Financing (Accelerated Development Zones); will help Leeds redevelop the lower Aire Valley in particular. There are also positive signs of support for energy efficiency, in particular additional funds for the Warm Front Scheme. Funding in the last year to develop a low carbon community heating scheme at Yarn Street in the Aire Valley was welcome, now we need to develop more ambitious projects."