The Conservative Group on Cornwall Council has today voted against Cornwall Council’s Budget for 2021/22, which will see average Council Tax Bills rise by nearly 5%.
However the Budget, which was put together by the Liberal Democrat and Independent Administration that runs the council, and supported by Mebyon Kernow Councillors, was voted through, meaning that Cornwall’s residents will now have to foot the bill.
Commenting, Conservative Group Linda Cllr Linda Taylor said:
“At today’s Full Council the Conservative Group on Cornwall Council voted against this Budget.”
"While this administration seems perfectly content to treat Cornish residents hard earned money as a Cash Machine, while they continue to overspend on budgets, under deliver on performance ,enter into reckless projects the average person living in a Band D property has seen an increase on their council tax of £564.90 since the Lib Dems have been in power in 2013, which equates to £70.50 per year.”
"This Government has funded Cornwall with an additional £500 million since the start of this pandemic, and the administration’s view that government money is somehow not taxpayer money is very naïve and simply incorrect.”
“It’s not how much money Cornwall Council but how it spends it, and this cash machine mentality from the administration in regard to Cornish taxpayer money must stop.”
“It is also ridiculous to have expected the Conservative Group to come up with an alternative budget. This is the job of the administration, with support from the council’s officers, and it must stand or fall on its own merits. For the Conservative Group to propose an alternative budget, which based on Cornwall Council’s own figures would have cost at least £500,000 would have been financially irresponsible, given that the numbers of Cornwall Councilors voting would mean that any alternative proposals would be voted down by the administration.”
“We are financially responsible with Cornish taxpayer money in opposition, and we will continue to do so should we take over the council following May’s elections.”
