Statement from Conservative Group Leader, Cllr Dan Jellyman
"Just over 100 days in power and Labour have declared the city closed for business. The political report brought forward is an attempt to duck tough decisions and act as a get out of jail free card for Labour’s un-costed electoral promises made during the local elections. The growing pressures in Children and Adult Services are ones that all local authorities are facing. But the choice this Labour Council is making is to look to declare bankruptcy, instead of taking on their Union Paymasters and make the necessary changes to generous terms and conditions that are paid to council staff. Initial reforms would generate over £1 million saving in its first year alone, with this increasing year on year. This was one saving we had proposed when in power, but Labour have rejected it. They are spending £90,000 on unnecessary special positions for Labour Councillors and have spent council underspends this year on their failed attempt to clean up the city within 100 days. If they were serious about investing in early prevention and to reduce the number of children in care, these underspends would have been spent in those areas to help close the budget gap."
"Issuing such a notice for a budget that is two years away will sap confidence from private investors in the city, it will cost resident jobs in the long run and lead to a decreasing tax revenue for the city going forward. We’ve always said that Stoke Labour didn’t want the city to succeed, and it’s taken them just over 100 days to prove what we’ve always said was right."
