In a tense exchange in the Chesterfield Council budget meeting on Thursday March 1st, Cllr Ray Russell, the Liberal Democrat Opposition Leader, unsuccessfully asked several times that the recent report on the changes to Parking Charge tariffs, brought forward only in private session last week, should be put before the Chesterfield Cabinet again - but this time in the public session.
Following a successful campaign against the raising of Council Tax in Chesterfield, the Liberal Democrats have now turned our sights on the Conservative run County Council which, it is claimed, will save £800,000 by closing down every Youth Club it runs including the Peter Webster Centre and Hasland Youth Centre in Chesterfield.
A storm of public opposition has forced Chesterfield's Labour Council to freeze Council Tax and drop its controversial thoughts of a 3.5% Council Tax hike. Commenting at the Borough Council's budget setting meeting, Liberal Democrat Group Leader, Cllr Ray Russell explained:
At a recent Cabinet Meeting, Cllr Ray Russell, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council Liberal Democrats, made very clear that, at the Chesterfield Council Budget Meeting, the Liberal Democrat Group would be voting against the 3.5% Council Tax rise that the media recently reported that Labour is considering. Cllr Russell said: 'The Coalition Government has made extra money available to enable Councils to freeze Council Tax again this year - and the vast majority of Councils are taking this up to help the many families who are hard pressed in these difficult economic times'.
The leader of Chesterfield's Liberal Democrat councillors is urging people to sign a petition on the Number 10 Downing Street website.
Many Chesterfield resident's were shocked to see in the local media that the Labour leaders of Chesterfield Borough Council are thinking of a 3.5% Council Tax rise this year - despite the coalition government offering a special grant to pay for Council Tax to be frozen for the second year running. This would make Chesterfield one of only a handful of Councils throughout the country to turn down the offered government grant. Labour say that it will make it harder for the Council to manage in future years if Chesterfield doesn't put Council Tax up this year.