Budget Update

4.09.05pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 17th Feb 2006

An Alternative Budget is being worked up by the Shadow Executive.

Cllr Jeff Brooks Leader of the Opposition (Lib Dem, Thatcham West), has branded the Conservative budget a mean budget: "there are a whole range of mean cuts being made by the Conservatives that we intend to reverse in our alternative budget," he commented.

Cllr Denise Gaines (Lib Dem, Hungerford), Shadow Executive Member for Finance says, "Despite the above inflation settlement that they received from the Government the Conservatives are pleading poverty. At the same time they propose raiding funding promised to schools, hiking car parking charges in Newbury by up-to 29.6% and increasing care home costs for the elderly by 7%. This spin by the Conservatives on their first attempt at a budget is deeply misleading."

• Lib Dem run Thatcham Town Council has posted a tax rise of only 1.58%, and Lib Dem run Newbury Town Council has posted a rise of only 2.4%, both of which are well below the Conservative run Unitary Council's 2.9%. Inflation is running at 1.9% (January 2006). LD/Labour Basingstoke District are also below West Berkshire at 2.5%.

• Last year after finally winning a fair settlement from the Govt the Lib Dems halved the tax rise - this year the Tories only managed to cut 1% off the rise and that without fully explaining where £3.4 million of cuts will fall.