Labour is wasting money nationally and locally in Lambeth

Labour Lambeth has rejected a lawful alternative Conservative budget that would have cut Council Tax by 1.5 per cent to help hard pressed residents hit by the government’s failure to manage the economy.

Building on the example shown by Mayor Boris at City Hall, the Conservative budget proposed wide ranging efficiency savings with the elimination of “non jobs,” cuts in the wasteful publicity budget, and reductions in allowances paid to Labour Cabinet members.

At the same time, the Conservative budget maintained front line services and care for the elderly, disabled and vulnerable children and offered help to small businesses struggling to survive under an uncaring Labour government.

“Our Budget for People included £2 million more for road and pavement repairs, more investment in libraries, parks, and open spaces and £150,000 more for the youth service,” says Conservative Group Leader Councillor John Whelan.

“The Labour budget by contrast offered little for libraries and parks and no extra expenditure on the youth service.  This comes on top of the highest rent rises in the country – 17 per cent – with the average Council Tax now £1,235.  Labour even voted against our proposal to pay small businesses working for the Council in 10 days instead of a month.”

Rosendale Road Shopping Parade will benefit from a new pavement after lobbying by Conservative councillors

Figures from the Taxpayers Alliance show that in 2007-2008 Lambeth Council employed 335 people on salaries of more that £50,000 – some of them with five weeks holiday a year – costing a total of £22 million without taking into account their generous final salary pensions and other benefits.

Councillor Whelan adds:  “Spending on “consultants and agency staff” is out of control at Lambeth Council, but the Labour budget has delayed taking any immediate action.  Typically, a department hires a temp from an agency to do the photocopying for the summer while permanent staff are on leave – two years later the agency temp is still there.”

The Conservative budget proposed scrapping the fortnightly “Lambeth propaganda sheet” Lambeth Life saving £400,000 a year.

“When Boris took office one of his first actions was to abolish Livingstone’s pet newspaper “The Londoner” and spend the money instead on planting new trees,” says Councillor Whelan.

“That hopefully will be the shape of things to come if Labour lose office in Lambeth at the next elections in 2010.”

As part of the Workplace Cycle challenge, organised by Transport for London, ninety eight council staff cycled more than 16,000 miles during the month long project. The aim of the challenge was to get people cycling to and from work, improve fitness, and reduce car use and CO2 emissions.

“Cycling is a great way to travel around our congested city, stay fit and healthy and help the environment,” says Clare.

“I really hope that next year we can encourage more people to take part and achieve even more mileage. Since my tuition lessons last year I feel much more confident and safer on the roads, which has encouraged me to cycle more often.”

A reduced service to two trains per hour will affect people working and shopping Croydon, and also going to Gatwick Airport.

“Once again Norwood is the poor relation,” says Clare.

“We are having our services removed to benefit people elsewhere. This is despite the fact that the services are popular now, and with all the new properties being built in the area more good rail services will be needed, not fewer.”

This announcement comes on top of the news that all Thameslink trains will soon be curtailed at Blackfriars, instead of going straight through to all stations to Luton.

Conservative councillors have appealed to the Rail Regulator but it seems that the decision is as good as made and not a consultation at all.

Clare adds: “Norwood seems to be the bottom of everyone’s priority list – the Council, the train companies, and our local MPs. I urge all residents who are unhappy with these changes to email me at cwhelan@lambeth.gov.uk so we can pass their protests on to the rail authorities.”

“Why do all the roads have to be done at the same time?” asked Clapham Conservative Nick Maund. “There appears to be no thought given to local residents by Lambeth Council or the utilities.”

“Labour Lambeth is raking it in as companies have to pay them to suspend the bays. Given the sky high cost of parking permits residents the money should be used to give local people a rebate for the inconvenience caused,” added Matthew Jupp.

“We will be pressing Lambeth to do just that.”

Pictured: Roadworks in Stonhouse Street