Mayor must cut his cloth to fit his budget say Lib Dems (Lewisham Liberal Democrats)

Lewisham Liberal Democrats <info@lewishamlibdems.org.uk>

Mayor must cut his cloth to fit his budget say Lib Dems

December 1, 2008 2:04 PM

Lib Dem councillor Alex Feakes questioned whether the Mayor has a coherent plan for the borough

Lewisham Liberal Democrats have called on the Mayor of Lewisham to come clean about his priorities for next year's budget following a recent council meeting where the Mayor's budget was discussed. At the meeting, the council narrowly voted to approve an interim list of cuts and savings, amid scenes of apparent confusion about the council's direction under the Mayor.

"When the Mayor puts forward proposals to cut social services, remove funding for the Blackheath fireworks, slash spending on health and safety enforcement and to increase tenants' and leaseholders' charges, you've got to wonder whether he has any coherent plan at all," said Forest Hill councillor Alex Feakes.

"The Mayor's budget plan was a joke," said Lib Dem group leader Mark Morris. "Even the Labour councillors were calling for him to set out his priorities. If he can't convince his own group that he has a plan, how can the public have confidence that the Mayor knows what he's doing in these troubled economic times?

"The Mayor must clearly set out what his vision and priorities are - what areas will be protected, what areas will be cut - and why. He has to cut his cloth to fit his budget."

The Lib Dems are pleased that the Mayor has submitted to the public pressure generated by their campaign to save the Blackheath Fireworks, committing to preserve funding in the future. "This is great news for Blackheath and the wider area," said Blackheath councillor Chris Maines. "It just shows that the public can influence the decisions made by the Mayor.

"The withdrawal by the Mayor of the plan to reduce access to adult social services is also welcome, and we're pleased that he listened to the views of councillors on this issue."