Front line services maintained and Council Tax frozen under the Conservatives
24 Feb
At the Council meeting (23 February 2012) the Conservatives passed a budget that maintains service delivery, with residents set to benefit from an unprecedented second year of Council Tax freezes.
The Conservative backed budget freezes Council Tax levels, which is at least £130 less than the average across Kent.
And once again Labour put forward no alternative budget proposals and voted against a budget that protects services, which they claim to support.
This comes after last week’s shock announcement on BBC Radio Kent that Labour would make the political choice to close Rochester Airport and Deangate Ridge – two cherished community assets.
Labour also opposed the Council Plan which sets out the Council’s priorities for the coming year such as continuing to provide value for money, giving children a better start in life and ensuring Medway is safe, clean and green.
The new budget honours the election commitments made by the Conservative Group last year to protect key front line services including libraries, weekly bin collection and green spaces, despite having to make savings of £14.3 million.
There are no cuts to Sure Start, with all 19 centres continuing to receive annual revenue as least as large as in 2011/12, with the service receiving an additional £322,000 for extended nursery provision.
Funding was also found to continue the popular free-swimming initiative, which has enabled nearly 60,000 under 11s and over 30,000 over 60s to swim for free since April.
In addition, £50,000 has been earmarked to fight the proposed Thames Estuary Airport.
Deputy Leader Alan Jarrett said:
“Its business as usual at the Council with service delivery and key front line services secured. Yet again we see that Labour has no ideas of their own and oppose everything including the Council tax freeze, funding for the stop estuary airport campaign, Sure Start and free swimming.
“Labour say they support services but its not words that count but actions and Labour’s only action is to oppose all the great services that the council provides. They even chose to oppose the Council Plan that outlines the priorities for the next year.”
5 Good Reasons To Vote Conservative Today
5 May- Council tax frozen for 2 years and car parking charges frozen for 3 years. Labour doubled council tax when they ran Medway.
- Protecting frontline services including Sure Start, and maintaining the 9am concessionary bus fares.
- Free swimming for the under 11s and the over 60s, libraries staying open and weekly bin collections maintained.
- A cut in Councillors’ allowances, so more money goes into frontline services.
- Three local Conservative candidates standing up for our area. All of your Conservative candidates live locally, unlike Labour – one even lives as far away as Gillingham! VOTE NEIGHBOUR, NOT LABOUR!
Vote Conservative On May 5th
4 May
Strood North candidates Cllrs Jane Chitty, Jane Etheridge and Paul Rai
2 Jane CHITTY X
4 Jane ETHERIDGE x
9 Paul RAI x
The elections for Medway Council tomorrow give you the chance to have your say on council tax and community services. There is a clear choice. Under the Conservatives, Medway has the lowest council tax in Kent – and it’s being frozen for the next two years. Despite the legacy of debt left by Gordon Brown, our Conservative Council has managed to protect key frontline services.
We are maintaining the 9am start time for concessionary bus travel. Funding for local Sure Start centres is
continuing. Weekly bin collections will stay. Car park charges have not risen for 3 years. Free swimming has been introduced for the under 11s and the over 60s.
When we stood four years ago we asked for your support to save Strood Market – and we delivered! All Faiths School (formerly St Mary’s) has not only been saved but we have secured a further £1.5million of investment to improve the school, and also facilities for our deaf children.
If Labour took control none of these services would be safe – and when Labour last ran Medway our council tax doubled.
Don’t let Labour do to Medway what they did to our country.
Only a vote for all three Conservative candidates will guarantee continued excellent local services – a vote for anyone else could give us another Labour Council.
VOTE CONSERVATIVE ON 5th MAY and VOTE NO2AV!
Medway Elections 5th May 2011: Statement of Persons Nominated
6 Apr
A full list of candidates for the Medway Council elections on May 5th can be found here
