COUNTY HALL THROWS MONEY DOWN DRAIN (13/03/02)

Somerset County Councils spends about £400 million per year. The majority of people have no idea that this much is spent. It is the equivalent of £1 million per day.

Each year the budget is produced and a starting figure must be found. This is called the base budget and time and time again, the figure is merely the final figure from the pervious year’s budget. Additional expenses for the coming year are then piled on top.

It is the base budget that concerns the Conservatives. When Somerset County Council is spending £400 million, it will come as a shock that there is no check of expenses that could be removed.

Over the past eight years, council tax has increased by a staggering 67%. Inflation has risen by 18%.

Conservative spokesman for Finance, Colin Hill, commented, ‘this atrocious attitude has been suffocating County Hall finances for years. Why should the Somerset taxpayer foot the bill for mismanagement? We don’t think they should. That is why, we are demanding the Liberal Democrats sort themselves out and allow a review of their administration.

‘It is ludicrous. The figures just don’t add up. Something has gone wrong. The first step is to look at the base budget, and assess, which figures have been brushed over. The second is to examine which services we have to deliver, and which ones we waste money on, when they are in fact non-statutory.

‘Staffing levels at the Council have increased by 30% in the last eight years. Yet, we are delivering the same services. I think it’s unacceptable. When the people of Somerset are having to dig deeper and deeper into their pockets, why should the Liberal Democrats be choosing to spend their money on over-priced extras.’