Sowerby Bridge News

Labour Group Call For Key Budget Changes

Calderdale Council Labour group are calling for changes to the Council’s draft budget to give more priority to creating jobs and supporting training to help local people through the economic down-turn.

Labour’s budget plans, released today by group leader Tim Swift, call for the creation of a Council-led Partnership for Jobs programme, with the investment of one million pounds over the next three years.

Commenting on the Labour proposals, Cllr Swift said:
“When times are difficult, people want to see sensible decisions taken about taxes. But they also want to know that the services they depend on are still going to be there – our towns and villages kept clean, our old people cared for, our roads gritted, our libraries open and our parks and open spaces looked after.

“And we also have a responsibility to do what we can to support local people through these difficult times, by working with others to provide training and employment and cut down the chances of people drifting into long-term unemployment.

“Our budget proposals would mean no increase in Council tax this year, and an increase of less than 2% in each of the following two years, as well as creating a dramatic investment in training, employment and business support.”

Other major proposals within the Labour budget include:-

• A Council tax freeze for 2010, and increases of less than 2% in the following two years
• A new Partnership for Jobs, with more than one million pounds committed to training, apprenticeships and job creation
• Help for children at risk, with a new programme to create family support teams working alongside schools in our most challenged communities
• A guarantee of tough action to identify and prosecute the worst fly tipping offenders
• Earmarked funding for a 0.5% pay rise for hard-working council staff, should such an increase be agreed in national negotiations.
• Positive practical action on the Ridings, potholes, and reinvestment in the markets.

Click Here To Download The Budget As A PDF