Roads get £12.3m as council tax rises. Critics say it’s not enough, suggesting reserve funds for better services.
The Lib Dems think this isn’t enough. They said a further 1.24 percent was possible, costing 36 pence weekly per household; they wanted to use reserves. The Lib Dems also wanted to use £9m from reserves. This, they say, would generate £20m in 2025/26. Their plan was rejected on February 13 at a council meeting.
Mike Mackrory leads the Lib Dem group. He stated the council ignores residents and surveys showed people would pay slightly more tax to improve local services. Mackrory said their plans were targeted and would have boosted struggling residents and improved services.
Chris Whitbread is the Chancellor of Essex. He stated they deliver for residents well, as the added highways investment proves. The council listens to their concerns. Whitbread said the economy is hard, and high inflation impacts local finances, raising the cost of providing services. He’s proud to have a balanced budget.
Whitbread wants to be sustainable long term, forcing tough tax decisions. They aim for good value for money, invest in the county’s future, and remember it’s taxpayer money spent. Greater Essex got government confirmation last week, that they will join a devolution program, so local government can now reorganize, leading to new funding models.
Whitbread vows to deliver vital services, work with the government, and focus on council structures and funds. The budget allows them to do that.