'Waste plan money should be used NOW' - Gaines

5.18.36pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 26th Jul 2006

Councillor Denise Gaines, shadow spokesman for finance, has today commented on the news that West Berkshire Council's proposed waste scheme is now unlikely to be signed before March 2007.

"The news that signing the waste deal will probably be put back until March next year leaves more than half a million pounds sitting idly in the Council's coffers."

It is thought that the £533,000 set aside for the plan will now go unused for the next seven months.

Councillor Gaines continued:

"The Tories are content to let money sit around unused. The Liberal Democrats believe we have a duty to use it for the people of West Berkshire - who contributed the money in the first place. We would use the money currently sitting idle to provide better services for everyone - the Tories have, as usual, showed complacency and incompetence over maximising funds available. They were too arrogant to accept our proposal to use this money in this financial year."

Facts:

- Council tax rose by 2.9% this year, but the Conservative budget cut £20,000 from the 'Meals on Wheels' budget for West Berkshire's elderly.

- Care home staff numbers and residential care beds have also been cut.

- The Liberal Democrat alternative budget can be seen at http://westberkslibdems.org.uk/resources/index/?PHPSESSID=a3638b18fe65bd2f65961952130a805c.