Wirral Conservatives have released their amendment to the Labour Budget proposed at Policy and Resources Committee which will be debated at the full Council’s budget meeting on the 1st March.
Speaking about his proposals Councillor Jeff Green, Leader of Wirral’s Conservative Councillors said: “I am delighted that, following public consultation, the threat of going to three weekly bin collections, closing the Williamson Art Gallery and losing Wirral’s only competitive swimming facility at Europa Pools have been removed.
“I believe that as we come out of the pandemic, thanks to the outstanding work of our GPs, health-workers, volunteers and Council staff, Wirral residents will expect the Council to build back better. I believe that, despite the Council’s financial challenges over the last five years, this amendment, with its investment in the environment and our young people, starts this process.
Councillor Green continued: “At this time last year, before the Coronavirus pandemic struck us all so deeply, the Council set a budget for April 2020 – March 2021 of £304.7 million. This year, the Council budget for April 2021 – March 2022 will be £329.4 million, an increase in year on year spending of some £25 million. We must be honest with the public and acknowledge that without more than £200 million of support for local businesses and the Council for the Covid crisis, plus the agreement to the Council’s request for an additional £24 million ‘exceptional financial support’ from the Government, civic society and council services would not have survived.
“My Group will continue to campaign for the protection of Wirral’s Green Belt, achieving carbon net zero, improving the quality of Adult Social Care and investing in our young people.
He concluded: “I really cannot believe that the Labour Party want to tell the Wirral public that, with a budget of £329.4 million, they can’t afford to cut the grass.”
