February 18 - Budget day....goes on and on
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YOU don’t get
a lot of drama at council budget meetings and today’s at County
Hall was no exception as KCC set its annual council tax rise and
spending plans for the year.
The one area of interest had been over the
stand-off between KCC and ministers about unmet asylum grant money
and the possibility of bills having an asylum surcharge added. As
it was this was avoided at the eleventh-hour as ministers
eventually agreed to pay the bulk of the money,
So, the increase in bills will be 2.1 per cent
– having initially been 1.86 per cent and then 2.39 per cent.
KCC tax rise - Read our story
here>>>
KCC leader Paul Carter said
the threat of setting a separate charge for the asylum costs had
succeeded in concentrating ministers’ minds.
I’m sure it did – as undoubtedly did the
concern among Labour MPs that such a precept might be used as a
rather unsavoury political football come the general election by
some candidates and parties.
So, with that sting drawn and KCC’s decision
to axe Kent TV, the opposition parties had the rug pulled out from
under them somewhat. Entirely predictably, a series of motions both
the Lib Dems and Labour tabled were roundly defeated by the
Conservative majority.
I sense that this year’s budget is likely to
be considered relatively straightforward compared to what is in
store next year and the year after when the public sector hammer is
certain to fall very heavily on local councils.
Among the more entertaining contributions was
a fulsome paean of praise for Kent TV from Canterbury councillor
Mike Northey, who told the meeting that the scheme
had been a “brilliant, big, bold radical [scheme] which had put KCC
“ahead of the pack” and had proved a “gold plated service” that was
a “raging success.”
I’m not sure everyone necessarily agrees with
that verdict and the Lib Dems pointed out that if that was the
case, why was the authority not continuing with it. But it was
undeniably a loyal and – knowing Mike – sincerely held view.
Meanwhile, Cllr Mike Snelling
berated the opposition parties for tabling amendments only
because they thought that "Paul Francis of the Kent Messenger would
give them a headline."
Politicians seeking to secure favourable media coverage? Who'd
have thought it!
Thursday, February 18 2010
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