LETTER - 8 SPENDTHRIFT YEARS AT COUNTY HALL (20/04/02)

Jim Mochnacz's letter of 18 April 2002 in your paper, quoted an earlier letter I submitted. What I said then is of course, quite right. However, Jim has been rather selective in his choice of quotes. In my letter, I went on to point out the failures of his party in power at County Hall. We are only in the current dire position because of the eight previous spendthrift years of Liberal Democrat autonomy.

In my original letter I also insisted that we at the County should undertake a far-reaching and fundamental review. This would assess the Council’s spending and organisation, in order to identify unnecessary expenditure, waste and profligacy and thus find savings. These would automatically be passed on to the taxpayer. Consequently, they can be saved from a Liberal Democrat onslaught next year.

I am pleased to report that we are taking our first steps along this road. Admittedly, for the Liberal Democrats these steps are a little tentative. However, we are trying to guide them in the right direction. We are currently reviewing the senior management role at County Hall and I trust we will have the support of Jim Mochnacz and his collegues in continuing with this process until we are satisfied that the Somerset residents are not being ripped off by their local Lib Dem rulers. One had only to read the Liberal-Democrats alternative budget suggestions last week to know who the "tax and spend" party, par excellence, are.

We are elected to do the best for our County. We should not be complacent. Liberal-Democrats are certainly not providing above average services at below average tax levels. This is utter fabrication. From being one of the lowest council tax Counties in the country a few years ago, we are now paying above the average in Council Tax for Shire Counties. I think it is important that all parties at County Hall work together in sorting out the mess. Conservatives are fully behind this process. It is the Conservative Group who insisted on the fundamental Review and it is the Conservatives who will guide it until the end, working on behalf of the Somerset taxpayer.

John Smeaton
Conservative Group Leader
County Hall
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 4DY
tel: 01823 356686
email: JESmeaton@somerset.gov.uk