Dursley News
Political parties clash over Gloucestershire County Council budget
11:35am Friday 10th February 2012
POLITICAL leaders at Gloucestershire County Council have been accused of misleading voters over a £100 million economic stimulus package.
Earlier this month the Conservative cabinet at the authority revealed £100-million investment package, which they claimed would boost infrastructure, skills and jobs in the county.
However, Lib Dem councillors have accused their Tory counterparts of taking credit for government grants.
Dr John Cordwell, Lib Dem councillor for Wotton-under-Edge, said the council had neglected to clearly indicate how much of the investment package actually came from government and not local authority funding.
He said: "The figures quoted mislead the public to believing that this is all thanks to a Tory controlled council when in fact more than half of the investment has come from grants provided centrally and not locally as the administration seems to be suggesting."
He added: "For instance, the £45 million plan to redouble the Kemble-Swindon rail line is Network Rail money and most of the Elmbridge funding has come from a Government grant. Lobbying for these projects has been going on for many years, in many places by many different individuals."
Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, has defended his cabinet He said: "The only way we will attract new jobs and keep existing jobs in Gloucestershire is by showing that Gloucestershire is going places. We have worked very hard to put together a package of measures, from both Government and council money, to make that happen. He added: "We have clearly stated that money comes from a range of sources – not just the council. "The Liberal Democrats are attacking a positive, non-political, campaign to boost Gloucestershire jobs. They are putting party politics before the interests of Gloucestershire people and Lib Dem council seats above jobs for Gloucestershire people."
The economic stimulus for Gloucestershire includes £7.5 million investment in super-fast broadband, £1 million investment in deposit top-ups for first-time buyers, and £1 million into an ‘opportunity fund’, which will be available for school, business and community based initiatives that deliver better employment and business outcomes for young people.
The budget will go before the authority’s full council on February 22.