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We won't borrow to fix roads, Buckinghamshire County Council says (From Bucks Free Press)
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We won't borrow to fix roads, Buckinghamshire County Council says
6:44pm Wednesday 20th January 2010
A COUNCIL boss today refused to borrow cash to fix Buckinghamshire’s ailing road network.
Councillor David Shakespeare said interest costs would further cripple Buckinghamshire County Council and said: ‘We need to live within our means’.
He spoke after council transport boss Councillor Valerie Letheren said £120m was needed to restore the county’s roads, including potholes left by the recent snow.
But Cllr Shakespeare, the council’s leader, was reluctant to borrow, she said.
Today Conservative Cllr Shakespeare defended his stance. He told councillors probing budget cuts: “The more we borrow the more worse our situation gets.”
Saying budgets including transformation would be ‘combed the hardest’, he said: “Borrow £10m and look for another £1m cuts in frontline services.”
He said: “It is your children who will be paying it back instead of saying ‘we need to live within our means’.”
But Councillor Michael Brand said Bucks is “crying out” for the cash.
Yesterday the council announced it was spending £2m on repairing potholes.
The leader was speaking at the second day of a committee’s probe into spending cuts at the council, which, along with other public authorities, is facing a major squeeze on finances.
Cllr Shakespeare said: “Whilst every member of the public would love to pay half the council tax and provide double the services, that simply isn’t possible.”
Costs were going up because more children were being taken into council care after the Baby P scandal, he said, and the council was required to do this by law.
‘Difficult’ children were costly, he said. “I’m sure the public will be absolutely amazed that some of these children are costing us and our taxpayers £200,000 to £250,000 a year.”
And Cllr Shakespeare said the council could have to pay more costs towards old peoples’ homes under Government reforms.
At the moment OAPs pay for their own care until their savings reach £23,000, then the council helps. He said: “That could cost up to an astronomical £27m to £28m on our budget.”
Yet this creates a ‘dilemma’ as BCC may not wish to pay for an expensive home when it starts contributing or takes over costs, he said.
Cllr Shakespeare said this was the council’s biggest budget so was likely to be hit.
Residents’ standard of living will be hit in the years to come and BCC would not ‘increase that burden’ with the council tax. Tories propose a two per cent rise, about an extra £22.
About 100 council jobs had gone this year with at least 400 to go in coming years, he added.
The council was ‘betting the farm’ on reforming how staff work to save cash, he said.
After he left, councillors gave his views a mixed response. Councillor Adrian Busby said there is a ‘steady hand on the tiller’ while Cllr Paul Rogerson said he is a ‘good leader’.
But Councillor David Polhill says “one the reasons we are in this mess we are in now” is BCC didn't save enough.
See the links below for our live blog from the meeting and more pothole stories.
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Your Say YourBucks
ivor, says...
8:53pm Wed 20 Jan 10
~
Only a few days ago a news article appeared here about switching off street lights. The scheme was going to cost £500k and the savings would only be £200k a year. No wonder there is no money left for the roads!
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “YOUR SAY” link at the top of the page then click on “BLOGS”.
Stiggy, High Wycombe says...
10:15pm Wed 20 Jan 10
Why is there this false perception that all we want is lower council tax? Services cost and most people accept a few pounds on Council tax is worth it if the services are good.
The point is that if there is a need to spend on road maintenance then face it as fact, they won't repair themselves and to suggest that BCC will not undertake their statutory duty to repair and maintain public highways is a farce.
We are not living in an impoverished, third world country and I personally do not want an administration in power which is not prepared to face facts. Like homes, roads need constant maintenance and not properly budgeting for this is incredibly irresponsible.
I do not think the public will mind paying for a service which is then provided. However, they would no doubt object to paying for something which they do not get!
Can you explain over what period £120m would need to be spent to "restore" the County's roads?
Borrowing costs at the moment are relatively cheap. Whilst I have no issue with borrowing, raising cash through council tax must be a cheaper and better way?
Thanks.
Tharus Bond, Flackwell Heath says...
8:01am Thu 21 Jan 10
I think I'd take the same stance don't borrow the money and when things get serious the goverment will have to cut there expenses to cover the cost! plus we pay for things non-tax payers recieve aswell!
swearmeister, High Wycombe says...
9:05am Thu 21 Jan 10
g costs ?
Cressex Road should be renamed "Off Road" due to the pot holes - and that's after some of them have been "filled" in. As for the road between Terriers and Widmer End, it's been full of holes for years.
If the councils were not so short sighted and realised that actually resurfacing the roads would save them money in the long run, things would be much better.
yog, says...
5:56pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Is this Tory for real???
Vulnerable children at risk are 'Difficult' for whom Cllr Shakespeare? Perhaps you would like them to stay locked in a wardrobe somewhere out of sight???
Kania 2000, hughenden says...
10:11am Fri 22 Jan 10
Stiggy wrote:I agree with Stiggy.
David, Why is there this false perception that all we want is lower council tax? Services cost and most people accept a few pounds on Council tax is worth it if the services are good. The point is that if there is a need to spend on road maintenance then face it as fact, they won't repair themselves and to suggest that BCC will not undertake their statutory duty to repair and maintain public highways is a farce. We are not living in an impoverished, third world country and I personally do not want an administration in power which is not prepared to face facts. Like homes, roads need constant maintenance and not properly budgeting for this is incredibly irresponsible. I do not think the public will mind paying for a service which is then provided. However, they would no doubt object to paying for something which they do not get! Can you explain over what period £120m would need to be spent to "restore" the County's roads? Borrowing costs at the moment are relatively cheap. Whilst I have no issue with borrowing, raising cash through council tax must be a cheaper and better way? Thanks.
Councillor David Shakespeare
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chris740, high wycombe says...
8:30pm Wed 20 Jan 10
if the roads was made up right in the first place, they would last.
and the repairs after the council digs bloody holes in them. was done right . not just shovel full of tarmac and stamp it in . all would be ok.
you lot who run this so called council are just clown and lining your own pockets