Freeze for River Ward Council Tax

Councillor John Jones voted against the Conservative budget on Thursday night. A budget which will sadly hurt local residents across the ward comes as a result of the Conservative Government £23.5m cut to our services.

The Conservative cuts include to front line services:

• 15% cut in library budgets, closure of Dockyard Centre and increase in rental charges
• 5% increase in concessionary fares
• Increase in fare revenue from CCTV cars and traffic enforcement mechanisms.
• £2.6m cut to the Early Intervention Grant which includes Connexions, Youth Opportunities Fund and Mental Health Services. Sure Start funding unclear with no inflationary increase or real terms budget freeze on 2010/11
• £3.5m floor-damping mechanism to continue despite pledges by Conservative Councillors. This will see money gerrymandered to safer Conservative shire councils
• Medway Tunnel liability expanded to £3m cost on Council from 2012/13. This is a medium-term liability on the tax payer books. The purchase of the tunnel was opposed by Medway Labour in what was a back-room deal undertaken by the Conservatives
• Cuts to bin services including wheelie-bin provision. Continuation of the blue and white straw-bag system.
• Cuts to safer communities budget coupled with support for 20% cuts to Kent Police and the creation of an elected tier of politicians at the expense of bobbies on the beat
• Huge budget cut to road-resurfacing budget, despite pot-holed residential streets, and loss of staff in the ranger and green spaces department which cares for local parks

The Medway Labour team recognise that families are suffering because of the Conservative cuts to local services, train fare rises, fuel price hikes and the struggle around home budgets caused through concerns around the economy.

Local business is also suffering from the chaos caused by the traffic system changes in Chatham and the poor consultation with local residents. It has led to insufferable delays and cost on business with now weekly changes to the road system in parts of Chatham leading to gridlock and paralysis.

The Tories have also fibbed. They pledged not to increase VAT, and increased it. They pledged not to increase train fares, and increased them. They pledged no NHS re-organisations; and have introduced a wholesale privatisation.

Both River Ward candidates are backing the Labour commitment for a two year freeze in Council tax to help people at a time when budgets are tight.