Cllr Ray Morgon (R.A Hacton Ward) writes exclusively for the www.collier-row.co.uk web site in relation to the recent Council Tax meeting and outlines how our budget proposals over the last three years would have saved over £1 million.
Since the report in the Romford Recorder (6th March 2009) of the council tax setting meeting, I have received some calls from residents about our proposed alternative budget.
Although an overall increase of 1.9% was agreed by the Council (when taking into account the zero per cent increase from the GLA) this, when compared to previous increases is good, but the opportunity to reduce the increase even further by adopting our alternative budget was a missed opportunity.
Our budget proposed a 1.75% increase and would have reduced council expenditure by £160,000 which is small when compared to the council's overall budget, but when added to the savings that we had proposed in the previous two years would have saved Havering Council over £1 million.
Our proposals this year for instance, would have seen an increase in the tree maintenance budget, increased expenditure for street cleaning, increased funding to help maintain our historic buildings and reverse the Conservative Administration's policy on car park charges which is damaging our town centres.
To fund these improvements we proposed a reduction in Councillor Allowances, a cutback on publicity and information and a rationalisation of expenditure on equipment, furniture & fittings. We also proposed alternative ways of funding graffiti removal and road maintenance to reduce the burden on the council tax.
For the third year in a row our alternative budget proposals would have delivered a lower increase than that agreed by the Conservative Administration.
Our proposals reflect not only our priorities and aspirations, but those of the people of Havering by boosting local trade and economies, improving the environment and maintaining our historic buildings.
The Residents Group are committed to delivering these aspirations while providing value for money to the council tax payers of Havering.
Work has already started work on our budget for next year, in order to put forward again, an alternative budget which is both credible and robust.
Cllr Ray Morgon
Shadow Cabinet Member for Resources
Residents’ Group
Since the report in the Romford Recorder (6th March 2009) of the council tax setting meeting, I have received some calls from residents about our proposed alternative budget.
Although an overall increase of 1.9% was agreed by the Council (when taking into account the zero per cent increase from the GLA) this, when compared to previous increases is good, but the opportunity to reduce the increase even further by adopting our alternative budget was a missed opportunity.
Our budget proposed a 1.75% increase and would have reduced council expenditure by £160,000 which is small when compared to the council's overall budget, but when added to the savings that we had proposed in the previous two years would have saved Havering Council over £1 million.
Our proposals this year for instance, would have seen an increase in the tree maintenance budget, increased expenditure for street cleaning, increased funding to help maintain our historic buildings and reverse the Conservative Administration's policy on car park charges which is damaging our town centres.
To fund these improvements we proposed a reduction in Councillor Allowances, a cutback on publicity and information and a rationalisation of expenditure on equipment, furniture & fittings. We also proposed alternative ways of funding graffiti removal and road maintenance to reduce the burden on the council tax.
For the third year in a row our alternative budget proposals would have delivered a lower increase than that agreed by the Conservative Administration.
Our proposals reflect not only our priorities and aspirations, but those of the people of Havering by boosting local trade and economies, improving the environment and maintaining our historic buildings.
The Residents Group are committed to delivering these aspirations while providing value for money to the council tax payers of Havering.
Work has already started work on our budget for next year, in order to put forward again, an alternative budget which is both credible and robust.
Cllr Ray Morgon
Shadow Cabinet Member for Resources
Residents’ Group
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