Conservative councillors were accused of “absolute hypocrisy” as they voted against a proposed budget at a fiery Wirral Council meeting.
Councillors from all political parties were debating whether to agree a budget put forward by Labour, Wirral’s largest party with support from the Greens and Liberal Democrats.
The budget scrapped proposals to close nine libraries, three playgroups, cut back maintenance of parks and street cleaning, as well as reduce some services to a minimum.
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The budget passed with support from 38 councillors with Conservative councillors being the only party to vote against.
However as part of that budget passing, council tax will now rise by 4.99% or £85 per year for the average household in order to help close the local authority’s £32m budget gap this year.
The decision to vote against the budget by the Conservatives was criticised by the children at a playgroup in Gautby threatened with closure who confronted councillors after the meeting,
Luke O’Dowd, who manages the Gautby Road playgroup said: “The children were mostly disappointed because a couple of the faces they recognised were Conservative councillors that came out to our centre to say they were behind saving that service and they were all shocked when those three councillors voted against, which in their minds was that they want to now close it.
He added: "I’m proud of all the children to be honest. We’ve pushed it to get the result that they wanted and that’s the most important thing but there’s disappointment in some certain councillors that have lied I’d say to the children and the parents of the centre.”
Cllr Kathy Hodson, who chairs Wirral’s Children and Education committee said she voted against the budget over the council tax rise and not to close the playschemes.
She added: “We felt that it was unfair on hardpressed council tax payers to have to burden another 5% but I think the children’s play services have a vital role to play."
The Conservatives were heavily criticised by all other parties at the meeting. Council leader Janette Williamson said: “They have nothing but negativity, talking the council and the borough down, while not coming up with a single idea to make things better. Theirs is a tired ideology that’s run out of steam.
She added: “Despite a balanced and positive budget, they prefer to keep recycling the same old grievances, with no vision for the future.”
Liberal Democrat Orod Osanlou said: “The hypocrisy is staggering. It is pure electioneering” while Cllr Stuar Kelly said the Conservatives hadn’t bothered to put forward any suggestions.
Cllr Kelly added: “They’re tired, they’re washed out and they have no ideas. Mr Mayor, there is a wolf stalking the doors of the Conservative Party both locally and nationally and that is the electorate.”
Conservatives, who voted against, accused Labour of “financial mismanagement” that resulted in the council facing a financial blackhole of £32m.
He pointed to previous criticism by inspectors over past management of finances and decision making at the council as well as questions over payments without purchase orders.
Cllr Tom Anderson said the council had previously been a hair’s breadth away from government intervention, adding: “It really is like Groundhog Day. A budget predicated on using reserves, short term one offs, and putting the difficult decisions back until after the elections.”
However other parties disputed this pointing to comments by the council’s watchdog Independent Assurance Panel who said the government was not to blame for its budget gap.
Labour was also criticised at points over previous projections that showed the council facing a budget gap of £49m. Greens leader Pat Cleary said: “Promoting an excessively pessimistic budget gap has inevitably led to heightened and unnecessary stress for staff and residents.
“It is inappropriate for members of the public to be misled about threats to libraries, leisure centres and youth services when members know that such threats no longer apply.”
Cllr Jo Bird, despite voting for it, said it was “a budget with no vision”, adding: “This is the best we are going to get, after more than a decade of Labour being in control and in charge of Wirral Council.”
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