Chesterfield LibDems challenge Labour Council's Funding of Government austerity measures

A very long and sometimes heated debate took place at a recent Chesterfield Borough Council meeting concerning the new Government's policy of a 10% cut to Council Tax grant across the country. Chesterfield Liberal Democrats put forward what we said was an obvious way to boost the council's budget and so go a good way to balancing the expected 10% loss resulting from the government's austerity measures.

We said that by extending the very successful contract at Chesterfield where the Council has partnered with a private sector company to manage its back office services (I.T. Benefits, etc.), the Council could actually save a further £92,000 and so easily give its budget a helpful boost. This we said, would go a good way to making up the budget cut, brought about by the government's reduction in grant funding.

Chesterfield Liberal Democrat council group Leader, Cllr. Ray Russell commented; "This contract was put in place by the previous Liberal Democrat administration. It is already saving the Council £400,000 p.a. bringing in new work and jobs - and improving service.

Despite this, the Labour Party seem very hostile to extending the contract to Phase 2. It would appear simply because this is a private company. We are disappointed but not surprised that Labour would seem to prefer to choose to hit residents under financial pressure rather than extend a contract which continues proving to be extremely successful and in doing so help protect residents from the Government's necessary austerity measures."

Editor's note: partnerships with private companies are already in place at Chesterfield saving almost £1.5m per year. The Waste Collection service is delivered by Veolia; the Tapton Golf Course owned still by CBC, is run by Sheffield International Venues and back office services are managed by Arvato.

Contact: Cllr. Ray Russell 01246-274235 Shadow Leader of the Council
Cllr. Keith Morgan 01246-271161 Chesterfield Liberal Democrat Press Officer