Council Budget

My view that full Council meetings are the least successful, and most diverse, in the schedule of formal meetings was reinforced today by the apparent 'grand standing' of certain councillors.

There was a budget proposal from the Cabinet on offer today with plenty of opponents prepared to say why it was wrong without putting forward alternative budgets.  That is particularly surprising and disappointing given that those opponents have had over two months to develop their proposals since the emergency budget was considered, and agreed to, by full Council at its 3 December2010 meeting.

It is quite appropriate to argue, as some councillors did,  that certain items in the budget are unacceptable.  However to not identify where the savings will otherwise be made seems to be based on the presumption that 'you can have your cake and eat it'.  It seems to me that not to identify where you will make savings, to fund what you argue requires additional funding, shows a lack of developed thinking.

Given the very considerable efforts that has gone into preparing the proposed budget, including taking some 90% of the savings as internal savings with all the risks attached to the transformational programme that that requires, does demonstrate a very real commitment to minimising the effects of budget cuts on the services delivered to Cornwall's residents.

Had alternative budget proposals been on the table then they would have formed the basis for a rather more constructive and informed debate than the spectacle that occurred today.  I, for you, would have given those alternatives due consideration - I speak as someone who did not support the council tax increase approved by Council for 2010/11.