Oxfordshire Conservatives

This week Conservative Councillors warned Vale residents to expect major cuts in services and sharp council tax rises despite being awarded an extra 3.5 % settlement from Chancellor Gordon Brown's electoral war chest as the Liberal Democrats try to close a £2.5m financial black hole in their next budget.

Councillor Matthew Barber warned, "The Financial mismanagement at the Vale under Lib Dem control is becoming more and more obvious. Savings of £2.5M have to be made which can only be made from cuts in services and council tax increases" Councillor Barber reacted angrily to reports that the Liberal Democrats were considering changing refuse collection to once in every two weeks as absolutely ludicrous, in order to keep our streets clean and pleasant we need a weekly refuse collection we cannot take this service away from residents"

Leader of the Conservative Group Councillor Melinda Tilley said she was not surprised at the financial situation. "We warned Councillors when the budget was set last year that the figures were unrealistic and that the Council could simply not push the burden of its financial incompetence onto residents through taxation."

Councillor Matthew Barber closed by saying "The Liberal Democrats have some very tough decisions to make but these problems are all of their own making. Rest assured we will be watching the developments very closely."

Thursday 11th November 2004 Vale Conservatives

Conservatives secure rethink of Faringdon sewage plans

On the back of the visit by Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment Mr Richard Ottaway MP organised by Councillor Matthew Barber and Wantage Conservative Spokesman Ed Vaizey a meeting was held between Faringdon Conservative County Councillor Judy Heathcoat, Tim Fane of Faringdon Environmental Action Group John Sexton Managing Director of Thames Water and Ed Vaizey regarding Thames Waters plans to build a new sewage treatment works in Faringdon.

The outcome of the meeting was a decision by Thames Water to re-think their original plans. Speaking in the Abingdon Herald Thames Water spokesman Andrew Boyd said "We have decided to call a temporary halt to our plans and re-evaluate them. We listened to the debate at the Council meeting and in the last few months have held several meetings with local people as well as receiving a petition from residents opposed to proposals. As a result of the various discussions we feel it best look again at peoples concerns and the project as a whole."

Speaking after the meeting Wantage Conservative spokesman Ed Vaizey said "We are delighted that Thames Water has listened to us. Thames Water could not have been more open and frank. They have agreed to a full review looking at all the options and we look forward to working with them But the campaign must continue Faringdon still remains as one of Thames Water's proposed sites we must not drop our Guard.

Monday 8th November 2004 Vale Conservatives

Lib Dem Councillor reported to Standards Board

The Conservative Group is disappointed to announce that it has had to report Councillor Jim Moley to the Standards board for England for his appalling conduct and repeated verbal attacks on former Councillor Ms Amanda Harland.

Councillor Moley waged a vicious campaign against Amanda despite repeatedly being told to stop by The Conservative Leadership, The Chairman of the Council and the Chief Executive The end result being that comments attributed to him,which have been found to untrue, appeared in the Herald Series newspapers on polling day in the Charlton Ward by-election.

It is the view of the Conservative group that conduct such as this is unbecoming of an elected member and the standards board have been asked to investigate as a last resort as Cllr Moley failed to respond to the requests of the Chief executive.

Conservative Group Leader Cllr Melinda Tilley said: "I am surprised but most of all disappointed in Cllr Moley's actions. It is most unusual for such an established and respected Councillor to behave in such a way. I thought after the way he was berated by the Council's chairman he would see sense but obviously he hasn't."

Conservative Group Secretary Cllr Matthew Barber added: "To pull such a stunt as this on polling day demonstrates very poor judgement and I hope the standards board will reflect our viewpoint."

The Standards Board for England was set up by an act of Parliament in 1991 despite being independent from the Government. It is tasked with building confidence in local democracy by promoting the ethical behaviour of members and co-opted members who serve on a range of authorities through receiving and investigating allegations that members may have breached the Code of Conduct.

Monday 2nd August 2004

Vale Conservatives

Lib Dems give go-ahead to new store

At tonight's Vale Development Control meeting (Monday) the Liberal Democrat Chairman used his casting vote to grant planning permission for a new Co-Op store in Abingdon's West Saint Helen Street. Conservative objections to the unsuitability of the design in a conservation area where described by local Lib Dems as 'architecturally reactionary', and their concerns over inadequate parking in the area were disregarded. The development which provides only one parking space for a three bedroom flat, was allowed to proceed despite local concerns that the design, although modern and exciting, would cause long-term damage to an historic part of Abingdon.

Conservative Spokesman, Councillor Terry Cox said, 'We are disappointed that local concerns over both the design and impact of the proposal have been disregarded. He described as 'reckless' the decision of Liberal Democrat, Jerry Patterson, to recommend that the Co-Op should appeal against the Council if they were refused permission.

Tuesday 20th January 2004 Vale Conservatives

Council tax up 5.5%

The Abingdon Herald writes...

Liberal Democrats on Vale of White Horse District Council pushed through their new budget with a comfortable majority - despite a vigorous attack from Conservatives on the inflation-busting rise in council tax.

As reported by The Herald last week, Vale residents will have to pay an extra 5.5 per cent on their bills for local district services. A typical Band D property bill will rise by £4.59 to £88.19. County council, town and parish, and police demands have to be added.

County Councillors last week agreed a 6.25 per cent rise in council tax, giving estimated Band D figures (not including parish precepts) of £1,134 for the Vale and £1,159.14 for South Oxfordshire.

The new precept was approved at the Vale council's budget meeting in Wantage by 23 votes to 16.

Tory finance spokesman, Richard Stone, said there was an imbalance between income and spending - and, to remedy the situation, the Lib Dems proposed a four-year raid on reserves and general balances.

"The cumulative impact is that our constituents will see the council's reserves spent and at the same time their council tax rise by 20 per cent over the next four years."

Terry Cox mocked a "Walter Mitty" budget increased at twice the rate of inflation and Tory group leader Melinda Tilley described it as "laughable". Matthew Barber said: "Year on year, we see taxpayers' money being wasted, targets missed and promises broken, yet every year they take more money from the taxpayer."

There will be increases in charges over a wide range of services provided by the council - and car parking charges will rise, mostly by 10p an hour, but some as much as 70p an hour, depending on length of stay. The cost of an annual season ticket for the Queen Street car park at Abingdon will rise between £100 and £200 a year - "Outrageous" chorused the Tories.
But deputy council leader, Jerry Patterson, defended the rises.

"The charges have increase by ten pence simply because that's the lowest coin size that the ticket machines will accept," he said. "The choice we faced was between increasing car park charges and cutting discretionary fares. We have improved car parks; charges must reflect this extra cost."

In his last budget speech before stepping down as council leader in May, Paul Bizzell said the Local Government Association had calculated that council's needed a four per cent increase just to stand still.

"With the changes to funding even keeping to a 5.5 per cent increase won't be easy, but we have been able to fund the pay and grading review, and other increases to costs, without increasing beyond previous forecasts or breaking our manifesto promises."

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Promoted by Matthew Barber on behalf of Oxfordshire Conservatives both of 8 Gorwell, Watlington, Oxfordshire, OX49 5QE.