The Conservatives rejected a fully costed and deliverable plan from the opposition Liberal Democrats that would have delivered free school meals, for children in need, for the next year – while seeking government support for future years.
The plans, costed by county officers, would have seen the council also restore a cut in highways maintenance, increase funding to improve footways, plant more trees and invest in additional solar generation to increase income as well as an investing in roadside electric vehicle charging points.
The key areas of change put forward by the Liberal Democrats were:
A FAIRER HERTS:
A GREENER HERTS:
A HEALTHIER HERTS:
GENERATING INCOME
The Liberal Democrats proposed to dispose of 10% of the County Council’s surplus property over 4 years, which would also have reduced security costs of safeguarding empty buildings. They also proposed cutting corporate communications and correspondence for which over £9m had been allocated in the Conservative budget in one year.
Cllr Paul Zukowskyj, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Finance spokesperson said, “The Council is sitting on over seven square kilometres of land designated surplus. It’s an eye-watering land bank and yet the Conservatives are failing to use it to the benefit of residents. We want to sell just 10% and, with the money generated, make a real difference to climate change, inequality and our communities. I don’t understand why the Conservatives prefer to sit on their hands and not help people to a fairer, greener and healthier future.”
Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst, Liberal Democrat Group Leader said. “We were clear that the priorities of the Conservatives were wrong. Our budget would not only level up communities but provide for a fairer Hertfordshire.”