Cllr Carol Runciman is campaigning for better roads in Huntington and New Earswick

Liberal Democrat budget proposals would see an extra £3million invested in frontline services across York.

The proposals reverse planned cuts by Labour run City of York Council to community centres, road repairs and street cleaning. They would see extra investment to increase recycling and would scrap plans by Labour to charge residents for all green bin collections.

The Lib Dems would invest extra money in young people’s counselling and advice services as well as give extra support to help pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. A new £500,000 Community Fund – giving residents money to spend on local priorities – would also be set-up.

The plans would see extra investment to support local businesses, mental health support and would take a Coalition Government grant to freeze Council Tax.

The full Lib Dem alternative budget will be unveiled and debated at Thursday’s Budget Council. The ruling Labour Group announced their controversial proposals earlier this month.

Cllr Keith Aspden, Liberal Democrat Group Leader on City of York Council, commented:

“We will oppose Labour’s current budget proposals and call for an extra £3million to be spent on frontline services across York.

“Our plans scrap the damaging cuts proposed by Labour to things like community centres and road repairs. They would also stop Labour’s plans for further cuts to street cleaning and litter bins as well as rule out cuts to the frequency of grey bin collections.

“We would scrap proposals to charge for all green bins, return winter green bin collections and increase investment to reverse the fall in recycling rates seen under Labour.

“We also want extra local funding to close the gap in performance between children from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers – a gap that in York under Labour is the biggest in the country.

“To support this commitment to young people we would protect advice and counselling services, defend local Children’s Centres from cuts and reverse Labour’s plans to stop funding apprenticeships.

“We would also set-up a new £500,000 Community Fund – giving communities the money to spend on local priorities such as extra litter bins or improved bus stops.

“Our plans would be financed by scrapping £11million of Labour’s borrowing for things like the city-centre Media Hub and nearly £1million of linked debt repayments. We would cut senior council management and take money out of council coffers to put into services.

“These are proposals which focus on the services which matter to local residents and not the vanity projects and waste which have defined the Labour Council since 2011”.

The Lib Dems would also invest an extra £500,000 to improve condition of housing estates in York funded from the ring-fenced housing account: http://yorklibdems.org.uk/en/article/2015/1020220/lib-dems-call-for-an-extra-500-000-to-be-spent-on-york-s-estates

The full Liberal Democrat amendment and its impact on the council’s 2015/16 Budget can be found here