Ruling Leeds Labour Group rejects Lib Dem budget amendments

Labour councillors in control of Leeds City Council have rejected all Liberal Democrat proposals for the coming year.

At the council's annual budget meeting on 22 February, the Lib Dems proposed a series of sensible and fully-costed amendments, but these were all outvoted by the ruling Labour majority. Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Stewart Golton spoke in the council chamber in favour of costed proposals to invest in public safety, recycling, trees, transport, council housing and foster care.

In response to the council meeting,Cllr Golton, said: 

“It is disappointing but not hugely surprising that our proposals have been rejected. Every year we demonstrate to the ruling Labour group where they could find the money to invest in sensible initiatives such as recycling and reducing waste, only for them to reject our budget amendments as barmy or unaffordable.”

Labour have had majority-control of Leeds City Council since May 2010, with the current number of Labour councillors standing at 57 out of 99 seats.