On 27th February, the Dacorum Council members debated the budget. I voted for a 3.8% Council Tax increase but the Conservatives used their majority to impose a 4.5% increase.

Lloyd Harris and I together with our Liberal Democrat colleagues voted to support an amendment that would have reversed the cuts to charities and in fact increased the amount they currently receive, increased bus subsidy, remove the petty cut to stop providing bags for the Council’s dog waste bins and delivered a 3.8% Council Tax increase. This would have been paid for by reducing spending on consultants, rebranding the Council and chasing the Green Flag award for just two of Dacorum’s parks. Unfortunately the Conservatives voted the amendment down.

Lib Dem Group Leader Denise Rance said “The amendment we put forward was sensible and highlighted our priorities:

1. Stop wasting money on external consultants and experts and enable our own staff to do the job they are employed to do.

2. Don’t just give lip service to the voluntary sector – give them the financial support they need.

3. We should be maintaining all our green spaces and parks to a high standard not just two within the entire borough. We should be able to do all of this within existing budgets.”

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