Accrington Web - View Single Post - Hyndburn Local Elections

g jones · 09-05-2011, 19:23

FROM LT: Graham Jones MP, Haslingden & Hyndburn says...
12:13pm Mon 9 May 11

Over the weekend the Labour Group have become aware of the full financial horror story left by outgoing Conservatives.

They racked up an incredible £5.2m worth of promises in just 12 weeks. That would equate to Labour increasing the Council Tax by over 50% to full fill these obligations. This is set against deep successive cuts in each of the next 3 years and Council debts of £10million. Yesterday the new Council Labour leader Miles Parkinson took the easy decision to suspend pending a full review all £5m of spending commitments, many of which were reckless election gimmicks.

The Tories had allocated £15k to drain a football pitch that had never been played on in years. Worse, a sizeable piece of one half of the pitch has seen a multi use games area built over it resulting in it being useless as a pitch. At my surgery and on the doorstep community activists have told me they were encouraged to turn up at the town hall, there were no criteria or application forms and just say how much they wanted and they were granted it.

The reality is two fold. The Tories knew they had lost so wanted to spend spend spend to leave nothing but empty promises Labour could not full fill whilst winning votes. One Labour voter in key seat of Immanuel told me he was voting Tory because the Council had promised in the dying days to build a brand new pavilion at Immanuel CC (they had).

Whilst housing is a key policy for Labour, there is to be a review of the £millions wasted under the previous administration. Under Labour housing investment is unlikely to be cash handouts or benefit private landlords as under the Tories. Scheme's such as any in Woodnook must provide the Council with a return.

The Conservative government have announced this morning they are putting more money into Woodnook providing the Council match funds it. Hardly a Labour only issue is it?

I have campaigned in parliament continuously, I feel led the campaign to some extent to secure funds post austerity for the housing crises, much of which is poor owners and bad landlords. I understand Council officers will be presented with a number of much lower cost options involving both the public and private sector with whom talks began last month.

The only sensible option now for the Council is a full review of each application on a case by case merit with those seeking funding submitting detailed proposals.

The days of reckless Tory spending are over.

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09-05-2011, 19:23	#218
g jones Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,125 Liked: 14 times Rep Power: 732	Re: Hyndburn Local Elections - 5th May FROM LT: Graham Jones MP, Haslingden & Hyndburn says... 12:13pm Mon 9 May 11 Over the weekend the Labour Group have become aware of the full financial horror story left by outgoing Conservatives. They racked up an incredible £5.2m worth of promises in just 12 weeks. That would equate to Labour increasing the Council Tax by over 50% to full fill these obligations. This is set against deep successive cuts in each of the next 3 years and Council debts of £10million. Yesterday the new Council Labour leader Miles Parkinson took the easy decision to suspend pending a full review all £5m of spending commitments, many of which were reckless election gimmicks. The Tories had allocated £15k to drain a football pitch that had never been played on in years. Worse, a sizeable piece of one half of the pitch has seen a multi use games area built over it resulting in it being useless as a pitch. At my surgery and on the doorstep community activists have told me they were encouraged to turn up at the town hall, there were no criteria or application forms and just say how much they wanted and they were granted it. The reality is two fold. The Tories knew they had lost so wanted to spend spend spend to leave nothing but empty promises Labour could not full fill whilst winning votes. One Labour voter in key seat of Immanuel told me he was voting Tory because the Council had promised in the dying days to build a brand new pavilion at Immanuel CC (they had). Whilst housing is a key policy for Labour, there is to be a review of the £millions wasted under the previous administration. Under Labour housing investment is unlikely to be cash handouts or benefit private landlords as under the Tories. Scheme's such as any in Woodnook must provide the Council with a return. The Conservative government have announced this morning they are putting more money into Woodnook providing the Council match funds it. Hardly a Labour only issue is it? I have campaigned in parliament continuously, I feel led the campaign to some extent to secure funds post austerity for the housing crises, much of which is poor owners and bad landlords. I understand Council officers will be presented with a number of much lower cost options involving both the public and private sector with whom talks began last month. The only sensible option now for the Council is a full review of each application on a case by case merit with those seeking funding submitting detailed proposals. The days of reckless Tory spending are over. Sent from mobile Last edited by g jones; 09-05-2011 at 19:30.