Stockport Conservatives Budget Amendment Statement (Explanatory Note)

The Conservative Budget Amendment stems from our beliefs as Conservatives that all Stockport’s residents deserve more opportunity and power over their own lives, that we should strive to encourage and nurture responsibility, a safe community and a greener Borough, and that the Council should exist to serve the people of Stockport, not itself. Our proposals present a holistic approach to achieving these aims, along with a recognition of the social and financial challenges that face Local Government.

The savings plans outlined address the need to make savings and to slim down the bureaucracy and red-tape of local government life without targeting or affecting the frontline services on which so many people rely at sometime. We also aim to address locally the loss of faith in public life and in politics as a road to change. We are therefore proposing that Members’ Allowances are held at the current level for one year, making a permanent saving.

Stockport Conservative Group also propose to restrict new cars under the Council’s car leasing scheme to Band C. This proposal again addresses the perception of perks in the public sector, and offers a realistic, achievable and incremental step forward in addressing Climate Change.

The proposals outlined to reduce funding allocations to advertising, marketing and hyper-active and empty consultation, recognize that SMBC is an accessible Council that should stand on its performance in frontline services, not the ability to talk about it. Often the more you talk, the less people listen, the less they believe.

Our proposals cut waste without affecting frontline services and free up funding for vital initiatives.

In a challenging economic environment the key to success will be flexibility and local initiative. We propose to grant funding to an innovative young entrepreneurs conference, engaging with young people under 25 and business to move towards re-invigorating Stockport’s local economy and addressing our demographic imbalance. Stockport is losing many of its young people to other areas, by offering start-up advice we will help young people to stay in the borough and to navigate and overcome the barriers that prevent good business ideas getting an opportunity. We also propose to provide additional support to those trying to access the workplace, recognizing that encouragement and re-skilling over the long-term is a better option for Stockport than short-termism and brief “pushes” to meet Government targets.

Stockport Conservatives have faith in young people; we will provide flexible funding in youth services for additional evening youth centre sessions or youth workers, recognising that the professionals should be trusted to know what works best. The proposal to invest in the music service moves towards restoring some of the cuts of two years ago. Young people are all different, sport isn’t for everyone and music can provide inspiration, aspiration and discipline too.

Because we all wish to live in a safe and attractive environment and because being proud of our surroundings encourages us to act responsibly and put back into (rather than retreat from) our community, we propose additional funding to clear up our local centres and address anti-social behaviour hotspots.

In transport, the Conservative Group propose a trial scheme of 1 hour’s free parking in two district centres. Providing incentives, forming new habits and encouraging residents to shop locally will contribute to the regeneration of local business areas, taking the traffic caused by out of Borough shopping trips off the roads and helping to nurture the vibrant communities that can exist where we all live and engage locally.

Finally we propose a reduction in the Council Tax increase. Families are under pressure, the tax burden is high and real earnings are falling. Families know best where those few extra pounds can make a difference. Lowering the burden gives families the chance to aspire, fulfil their potential and make their own choices – giving them power over their own lives back. Stockport Conservatives’ proposals invest in Stockport’s future, now.

Stockport Conservative Group
February 2008

Conservative Group Budget Amendment

Savings

(All permanent savings)

Customer Focus

• Delete four issues of The Review                     (£100K)

• Marketing and Communications Salaries        (£100K)

• Delete Members’ Allowance Increase              (£20K)

• Corporate Consultation                                      (£20K)

Children & Young People

• Translation Services                                          (£20K)

Finance

• Car leasing scheme – new cars restricted
  to Band C (max 150g)                                       (£20K)

All Portfolios

• Recruitment Advertising                                   (£200K)
   
• Other Advertising                                              (£100K)
  
  
• Reduced consultancy costs                                (£75K)
  
  
• Vacancy Management                                      (£380K)

                                                                                     (£1035K)                            

Investment

Children & Young People

• Youth Services – open selected centres
  an additional evening a week or supply
  field based youth workers (permanent)                    £75K
  
• Music Service- additional allocation for
  instruments and tuition in deprived areas
  (1 year grant)                                                              £60K

Regeneration

• LAA11: Supporting Incapacity Benefit
  Claimants & Out- of -Work Lone Parents
  Into Employment -2 additional posts (FTE)
  for Standguide programme (1 year)                        £50K

• Young Entrepreneurs Conference (1 year trial)      £20K

Communities

• 3 additional PCSOs in Stockport   (permanent)    £90K

Environment

• 4 local centre stewards (1 year trial)                       £85K

Transportation

• Trial scheme (5 months) – 1 hr free parking
  in 2 District Centre car parks                                  £30K
                                                                                    £410K 

Council Tax

Reduce Council tax increase to 3.98%                         £625K
                                                                                        £1035K
                                                         

Proposed by: Cllr Les Jones                       Seconded by: Cllr Syd Lloyd

Appendix

Statement by the Corporate Director, Business Services

1.      The proposals contained in this amendment have been shared and discussed with the Corporate Director, Business Services who has provided his opinion and advice, particularly on the risks associated with the specific savings being recommended. This advice and risk assessment has been reflected in the figures included in the final proposals.

2.      The savings proposals relate in the main to specific budget heads, and would require the relevant provisions contained in the proposed Executive budget to be reduced accordingly. In addition, the action plans necessary to achieve the reductions would have to be put in place and delivered by corporate directors and relevant managers. In particular, the actions required to achieve the desired level of savings from holding posts vacant, over and above those included in the proposed Executive budget, would necessitate rigorous management and monitoring.

3.      Subject to the comments above, and the requirements, dependencies and risk assessment identified in both the Indicative and Executive budget reports, and based on the risk assessment of the specific proposals contained in this amendment, the Corporate Director, Business Services is able to report that the estimates underpinning the Executive budget as amended by these proposals would remain robust and the level of reserves recommended in the report at 3(vii)(d) would be adequate.