Test Valley’’s Liberal Democrat group are proposing amendments to the Borough Council’s 2009-2010 budget designed to reduce costs and soften the impact of the credit crunch on local taxpayers. A number of measures are being considered and these will be tabled at the council’s budget meeting on 23 February. Among the proposals are:-

The deferral of increases in council fees and charges for one year.
A reduction in the number of Council Cabinet members.
Savings in the cost of council meetings in line with savings elsewhere in the council.
A review of the number and cost of Councillors in the Borough.
A review of the cost and need for a Borough Mayor.

Many of the proposals are long term objectives which could result in savings of several hundred thousand pounds per year. The council is currently facing budget deficits of between £1,300,000 and £2,000,000 over the next two to three years.

It is becoming increasingly clear that we face a long and deep recession and the Council must take the necessary steps to prepare for this. For many years we have relied on investment income to balance the books. This will no longer be possible. We need to rebalance our income sources while looking at cost savings across the Council. This must include the costs of Councillors as well.