CONSERVATIVE UNITY - Letter (18/03/05)

Sir,

I was disappointed by a Lib Dim district councillor's disingenuous attempt in last week's Postbag* to show that Conservatives do not talk and work together. Let me assure him and your readers that we are in constant communication and are together determined to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of services the County Council and Taunton Deane provide with clarity of responsibility and deliverable action. As soon as I finish this letter, I am off to one of our regular meetings with Adrian Flook and the leaders of Taunton Deane!

He cited the council tax on second homes as an example of disagreement. The Conservatives on the County Council have been consistent in their view that the county council share of this increased income - this year over £1m -should be used primarily to address County Council priorities. The Conservatives at Deane House know this. Last year we opposed handing all this new income directly over to districts to spend through their local strategic partnerships. During the year the Lib Dem County Council had to ask for some of the money back to run its own Strategic Partnership! This year, the Lib Dems have not handed over all the money to districts. We need little advice on how to think things through. He quoted the need to fund the Taunton Deane police community support officers from which the Lib Dem administration at County Hall withdrew last year. Please read our manifesto (www.somersetconservatives.com) launched last week - the County Council Conservatives are committed to increasing this provision for these vital reinforcement to the police effort to combat crime and reassure our residents - unlike the Lib Dems at County Hall who withdrew funding last year. We know what needs to be done.

We believe in partnerships, to which members contribute and deliver. We also believe that councillors are elected to make decisions in the best interests of all whom they represent. A Conservative County Council administration will work with the four Conservative and one Lib Dem run District Councils in Somerset to realise our responsibilities.

Yours faithfully,

Christopher Wolverson

Leader of the Conservative Group, Somerset County Council

*Somerset County Gazette, 11/03/05