Firstly, I accept that some of the proposed savings proposed will not be popular but the economic situation has worsened across Europe and Government is telling us that it is going to take the country longer than had previously been thought to put things back on an even keel.
It is also worth pointing out that I am part of a minority administration and that the opposition collectively can vote down any aspect of the budget if an alternative saving is proposed.
One proposal which has already generated much debate this week is the proposal to withdraw the £130,000 funding for the Airshow. This doesn't mean that we do not want the Airshow and there always remains the possibility that private enterprise may still come forward with the funding which may enable the Airshow to continue.
If no private funding is forthcoming, to lessen the impact of cuts to front line services in times of austerity then it leaves very little option but to suspend the Airshow until the period of austerity ends. I personally enjoy the Airshow but many businesses have privately over the years said to me that they do not need the Airshow as they will busy anyway due to it being a bank holiday weekend.
The other proposal which has attracted much debate is to cease providing one roll of black sacks to each household every six months. I have heard many theories that by removing the black sack provision will result in increasing rubbish being dumped and litter being deposited on our streets.
I do not subscribe to this view, I may be proved wrong, but the evidence suggests that this may not be the case. I think it is worth mentioning that as and authority it is costing taxpayers £3 Million a year in landfill costs for black bag waste. This is a colossal amount when you think that all items can be recycled at home with the exception of nappies or used tissues.
With the cost of landfill taxes rising further and further we need to divert as much as possible from black bags into recycling. Pink recycling sacks, white textile bags will continue to be provided free of charge as will lining bags for the blue food waste recycling caddy's where 99.9% of household items can be deposited.
It has been proposed to increase council tax by 1.75% and not take up the offer of the governments 1% council tax freeze but was a necessity to prevent further cuts to front line services. On balance this is probably the correct decision but do accept that times are tough for many people and an increase in household bills will be unwelcome and trying to explain how the governments council tax freeze not being built into base causes problems in the future is an almost impossible concept to sell or explain.
There are some more positive aspects to the budget as we are proposing to cut parking charges in local shopping areas by creating a 30 minute charge of 20p and an hourly rate of 50p in place like Thorpe Bay Broadway.
The Council is also pushing forward with a capital programme which will deliver improved facilities and boost growth locally.
These include:
- a four-year programme of repairs to paths, roads and tracks within Southend's parks
- restoration of the Borough's war memorials to repair damage caused by acid rain and the salty coastal environment
- the expansion of child care places for two-year-olds
- capital investment to support the Council's Short Breaks programme for disabled children
- £4.5m of sea defence works
- £2.13m of improvements to the Kent Elms, Bell Corner and Tesco roundabout junctions on the A127 and
- £500,000 investment towards making Southend a "wireless borough"
One thing that is certain is that the debate has only just begun with much dialogue to be had before a budget is agreed by Full Council in February.
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