Macclesfield: Cheshire East Councillor in 'rant' over service cuts
An angry Labour councillor told members she was sick of hearing them moan about service cuts when there was no alternative because government funding had been slashed over the years.
Cllr Laura Crane's rant came as members of the environment and communities committee were discussing the mid-term financial strategy 2023-7 (budget) and the savings needed for the council to balance its books.
Several councillors had been unhappy with proposed plans which include charging for garden waste bin collections and reducing library opening hours.
Cllr Crane told the committee she was frustrated by what was being proposed but 'the reality is we've got to make cuts'.
"If you go back 10 years, more than 20 per cent of our budget came from the government, now 97 per cent we're self-funded," said the Sandbach councillor.
"We're not getting that income from anywhere else, we're capped on how much we can increase council tax, and in a cost of living crisis who wants to do that anyway? All I'm hearing in every service committee is, 'I don't want to do that, I don't like that, I don't like that', I'm sick of hearing it."
She said nobody was putting forward any alternative proposals.
"Our officers have worked their a**es off to get to a position where they can bring us a budget that's balanced," she continued.
"Do we like what's on the table – no! Is there anything left to cut that isn't already here on the table, I don't think there is. I think we are so cut to the bone by a decade of austerity, how do we do anything else?"
Again she implored councillors to come forward with alternative suggestions.
Congleton councillor Sally Holland (Con) told her: "You are in the administration, this is your role I'm afraid."
But Middlewich councillor Jonathan Parry (Lab) said it was the responsibility of all elected representatives.
Knutsford councillor Tony Dean (Con), said the problem could be dramatically reduced by letting others have more say 'instead of being surprised a week before the meeting with a list of savings that a few people in a smoke-filled room decided amongst themselves'.
Cheshire East Council has a £330m budget and, with inflation at 10 per cent, deputy leader Craig Browne (Ind) said the council needs to find an additional £33m.
A council tax rise of 4.99 per cent would bring in around £13m which still leaves a funding gap of £20m, which is why cuts and savings are necessary.
A decision on the budget proposals will be made at the full council meeting on February 22.
The news comes just a day after Macclesfield Nub News reported about proposed library cuts, and a week after street lighting ones.
See Also: Macclesfield children with disabilities to benefit from Co-op funding for Friends for Leisure
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