County Hall Conservatives disbelief at Labour complacency

David Lloyd, Performance and Resources portfolio holder at County Hall, today expressed his frustration and disbelief at the complacency of the Labour group, following their pre-budget press release.

“I cannot believe that in the context of one of the hardest budget settlements that we have ever faced, and with our residents facing up to the worst economic position since the Great Depression that the Labour group should tell us that everything in the garden is rosy,” he said.

“As the Labour group well knows, the cash increase of £3m in grant is less the amount the government is taking back from us through its landfill tax and makes no contribution to the costs of inflation or other pressures”.

“The government’s formula for contributing towards local government is seriously flawed and would leave Hertfordshire over £30m short each year. The government has recognised the dire consequences that this shortfall would cause and makes an additional payment to bring the grand up to a ‘floor’ level. The £32m additional payment for 2009/10 is not additional money.”

He added: “I would have hoped that the Labour group would have been joining us in taking this problem to the Labour Government, but unfortunately they are more in tune with their national masters than their local residents.”