CONSERVATIVES BLOCK DEBATE ON LIB DEM AND INDEPENDENT SPENDING PROPOSALS

The Liberal Democrat and Independent Group on East Cambridgeshire District Council proposed a series of measures at the budget meeting tonight (25 February) that would have 

• Increased funding for tourism and the arts to boost the local economy and secure a future for Babylon Arts
• Increased the council’s actions on climate and the environment
• Used funding from the abandoned Local Plan review to prepare for proper parking enforcement across East Cambridgeshire.

The Liberal Democrat and Independent proposals were defeated, and the Conservative budget passed.

Later in the meeting, Conservative councillors voted to BLOCK an amendment from Liberal Democrat & Independent councillors from being debated. This amendment would have ceased spending nearly £9m on the Conservatives’ expensive and unwanted crematorium at Mepal and used the money to

• Provide for more investment in district-wide community facilities and inclusive play and local facilities
• Improve footpaths and cycleways in the district.

Group leader Cllr Lorna Dupré said:

Our amendment to the Conservative budget would have offered new and better amenities for local residents, a renewed push on climate and the environment, and the prospect of real parking enforcement—all with no increase in the council tax.

They blocked any discussion of alternatives to their unwanted crematorium plans for Mepal, which is taking millions of pounds from popular amenities for which there is a real need. We would have invested these infrastructure funds instead in popular community and play facilities, and in more connected footpaths and cycleways.

Even more importantly, we would have set aside the £2.2 million that is urgently needed for Staploe Medical Centre to expand at Soham, for which there is currently no specific provision at all in the council’s financial plans.

Even knowing they can win the vote in the council chamber, the Conservatives are still determined to deny democracy, and rule in the same autocratic way to get their unpopular crematorium plans through.