Des Browne 'scaremongering' about council cuts

Apr 24 2009

THROUGH the local media, Des Browne MP is regularly scaremongering about cuts in council services, job losses and lack of consultation.

I would like to clarify the Conservative position on some of these issues.

We fully supported our manifesto commitment to freeze council tax, as a way of relieving financial pressures on hard-pressed households.

From 2003 to 2007 under Labour the number of employees rose continually. With over half of the council budget going in wages, every job has to be looked at to ensure value for money.

This will result in job reductions but we will hold the leader to his commitment of no compulsory redundancies.

For Des to complain about lack of consultation when the council Labour Group have announced their withdrawal from the Cross Party Sounding Board, a key method of consultation on council policies, shows the state of disarray the Labour party are in.

Further, where were the Labour councillors when they had the opportunity to address cabinet with their views on the proposed children’s house?

I have also been accused of voting along party lines at Governance and Scrutiny Committee on this proposal. As the only Conservative on the committee I would find it difficult to do otherwise.

Unlike the Labour members of the committee, whose voting intention Des publicly declared before the meeting, I listened to the evidence presented and voted accordingly. As a lawyer I would have thought Des would have understood that concept.

Rather than interfering and criticising the work of the council he should perhaps concentrate on resolving some of the national issues we face.

It would appear that Des feels he has to adopt the role of ex-officio council group leader and spokesman if Labour is to have any influence in East Ayrshire. Do I detect a General Election in the offing?

– Councillor Tom Cook, Ward 3.