Councillors clash over last budget before May local elections
IN the last budget before the local elections in May, New Forest District Council’s Conservative administration capped off an average £70 council tax rise for residents.
The overall levy, which is increasing by just over 4.2% for Band D properties, comes from NFDC as well as Hampshire County Council, Hampshire Police, Hampshire Fire and Rescue, and town and parish councils.
On Monday night district councillors agreed to charge local Band D residents £173 for their share – a rise of nearly 3%.
The total annual bill for 2019/20 for an average Band D household in the New Forest will be £1,765.
NFDC leader Cllr Barry Rickman used his speech to praise the last four years of Tory rule which he said had delivered “quality frontline services despite significant reductions in central government grants”.
He said the council had worked with business, such as investing £75,000 in the ‘49’ business hub at South Efford House near Lymington.
The draft Local Plan set out policies for 10,000 new homes by 2036, he added, and the five public leisure centres in New Milton, Lymington, Ringwood, Applemore and Totton had attracted 1.6-million annual visits.
The council had provided £450,000 of grant aid to community groups and was focussed on tackling littering, investing in CCTV, and greater efficiency with new technology and moving staff from Lymington Town Hall to its Appletree Court HQ in Lyndhurst.
NFDC’s Band D tax rise amounted to £3 a week, Cllr Rickman said. “We will only increase our share of council tax in order to protect core services such as our refuse and recycling collections, health and leisure centres, and environmental protection services.”
The Tory budget was attacked by Cllr David Harrison, leader of the two-man Liberal Democrat opposition group.
He accused the administration of missing opportunities, although did not put forward an alternative plan.
Recalling his budget speech from last year, Cllr Harrison said nothing had been done about his suggestions on more housing and better recycling rates – for which NFDC languishes low down national tables.
He criticised the Tories for being “sluggish” with commercial property investment plans that he said had missed the best deals and was in danger from a potential economic slowdown.
“I am also decidedly uncomfortable with the idea that delivery of vital public services should depend on having a good year of investments,” Cllr Harrison said.
He went on to claim Tory backbench councillors were privately unhappy with a decision-making “elite” avoiding scrutiny or challenge.
To laughter, he welcomed members who wanted to switch party.
Cllr Harrison concluded: “Chairman, I recognise a brick wall when I see it. The forthcoming elections give me an opportunity to go around the wall, rather than for me to be bashing my head against it with a detailed alternative budget.”
Defending the budget, NFDC deputy leader Cllr Edward Heron accused the Lib Dems of having “no substance”.
Cllr Michael Thierry added: “What the electorate of the New Forest will have learned tonight is that the Lib Dems have got nothing new to offer them other than what Cllr Harrison gave us last year.”
Cllr Rickman finished: “The fact is that this council needs to carry on doing what it is doing with sound finances. When it comes to scrutiny, that’s what voters will do in May.”
The biggest rise in the overall council tax is the police precept which is rising 13.5% to £201 for a Band D household. Police and crime commissioner Michael Lane said that would help pay for 200 extra officers.
The fire service charge is going up by 3% to £68. The average increase for town and parish councils in the New Forest is 5.7% to nearly £86.
