The budget drawn up by the Conservative administration of Bromsgrove District Council has been passed by Full Council.
The Medium Term Financial Plan for 2015/16 to 2017/18 includes a freeze in Council Tax for this year, free evening parking in Bromsgrove, and an allocation of 25% of the New Homes Bonus to community schemes, worth £87,000.
The Financial Plan also allocates £23,000 to Economic Development Projects, and £30,000 to the Essential Living Fund, which will be matched by Worcestershire County Council.
Alternative budgets by the Labour and Independent Alliance groups were rejected by the Council. Coun Mike Webb, Portfolio Holder for Finance, emphasised the fact that the alternative budgets would have only altered 4 percent of the Conservative budget.
Coun Webb also expressed concern about the comprehensiveness of the Opposition budgets, pointing out the original budget published by the Independent Alliance contained an error worth £1.5million.
Coun Webb said:
“I am pleased that this ambitious budget has been approved by Full Council. I also welcome the fact that the Opposition budgets agree that 96% of the Conservative budget is best for the residents of Bromsgrove District.”
He added:
“I found it incredibly worrying that the budgets presented by Labour and the Independents were very sketchy. They refer to cuts to funding, but don’t set out how these cuts would be accommodated, and what impact they would have on services.
“This Conservative budget has protected frontline services, whilst giving back to Bromsgrove residents, and sets out clearly the next steps for the District.”