COUNTY COUNCIL BUDGET HIT BY DEBT DOUBLE-WHAMMY

Spiralling debt incurred by both the Labour Government and the former Lib Dem administration at County Hall has led to the drafting of an emergency budget at Somerset County Council.

It recognises that under the Lib Dems, the Council's debt rocketed to £360m - over £1,500 for every household in Somerset. In addition, Gordon Brown's addiction to borrowing means that the County Council's funding from central government over the next few years is likely to be drastically reduced. Addressing the need to be more financially responsible than its predecessors, the Conservative administration at County Hall has therefore proposed a one-year emergency budget.

David Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Resources, commented, "As we do not know just how severe the cut in funding from central government will be in the future, we cannot budget for that period with any certainty. We have worked hard with the senior officers at County Hall to make sure that this emergency budget maintains a clear focus on looking after the needs of our residents, while recognising the economic climate in which we now find ourselves.''

Ken Maddock, Leader of Somerset County Council, added "Regardless of which party wins next year's general election, times are going to get tougher for local authorities. Here in Somerset the Lib Dems left us with staggering amounts of debt which we have now started to reduce. Our priorities remain the maintaining of our core services while holding to our commitment to help every family in Somerset by freezing their Council Tax bill."

ENDS

Note to Editors:

Somerset County Council has historically budgeted on a 3-year basis, setting out its proposed level of service budgets and Council Tax levels for that 3-year period. However, due to the unprecedented current financial situation, the Conservative administration has decided to set a budget for 2010/11 alone. As soon as the new government has given its first budget following next year's general election, and set out the level of funding it will give to the Council, Somerset County Council will revert back to its normal 3-year budget routine.

In the 16 years of Lib Dems at County Hall, the level of debt rose from around £15m to £360m and the Council Tax doubled over the last 12 years.

To see the current level of central government debt, click here: http://www.spectator.co.uk/coffeehouse/3564956/the-coffee-house-debt-counter-information-and-sources.thtml This gives the national debt level in total and by household.

For more information: contact Councillor Ken Maddock, Leader of Somerset County Council, 07881500008 / 01458 850906 kmaddock@somerset.gov.uk, or David Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Resources, 07919540663 / 01278 723120 djhuxtable@somerset.gov.uk.

Ref: 01Dec09