The failure of the so-called Conservative budget proposals to assess their impact was just one of the flaws highlighted at their presentation at Oldham Council’s Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee [8 February].
Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Diane Williamson said: ”The Conservatives kept telling the Committee that they did not have enough time to put forward a budget – so instead they stole most of what the Liberal Democrats have put together over the last four to five years and submitted that; rebadged slightly – but still what Lib Dems have suggested years before, and most of which they had previously voted against!”
The Conservatives have been on Oldham Council for many years now and have sat in numerous Budget Council meetings. They also have dedicated staff now, so there really is no excuse.
The Conservatives failed to put together a budget without any Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) and when questioned as to why this had happened repeatedly told the Committee that it was because they did not have enough time.
The assessment is part of putting together a robust report, but the Liberal Democrats put together a fully costed budget amendment in the same amount of time as the Conservative had, with EIAs. Their budget amendments were also heard at the meeting on Tuesday 8 February.
“Perhaps more time should be spent on thinking about their own budget proposals and use their own initiative rather than taking other people’s ideas. If this is what it’s like to be a Tory, I am glad I’m not one” added Cllr Diane Williamson.