County LibDems oppose Tory budget
At a lengthy Full County Council meeting on Wednesday, February 1st. The Liberal Democrat Group, led by Cllr. S. Flitter, opposed the budget put forward by the Derbyshire Conservative controlling group. Acknowledging that cuts had to be made, and that under the previous Labour administration, all services were concentrated towards the main towns with very little used to fund outlying areas in the county, Cllr. Flitter criticised the Conservatives for failing to recognise that vulnerability lies particularly with those who live just above the breadline and can claim no kind of benefit whatsoever.
He acknowledged that over the next four years savings of £90m had to be made but he suggested that it was unfair to: reduce the adult care budget by £9m, to reduce the level of independent living schemes, and to take away 73 necessary bus routes. Proposals to close Derbyshire's Youth Clubs came under fire as did the selling of related assets before the consultation was complete. He also asked why other political leaders were asked to comment on a recent survey of youth service re-structuring but put out the same survey as a draft before the comments were in. He highlighted that because of lack of organisation many areas of Derbyshire were left stranded in inclement weather and that residents looked forward to winter with great apprehension.
Many of the "cuts" he said had been disguised as "remodelling of services" and made it clear that the Derbyshire public would not be hoodwinked by "semantic trickery".
To applause from his own group and some members of the public, Cllr. Flitter took his seat after a very assured political performance by himself and his group.