By Cllr Pauline Jorgensen
In my column in this paper on 2nd February, I wrote: “It’s right that any administration continues to make the case for more funding for their area.”
I certainly want to see more money for Wokingham.
When the Conservative councillors ran the Council, we routinely lobbied the Government for a fairer funding settlement for Wokingham. We regularly met with local MPs to discuss this issue, including the former Prime Minister.
Crucially, we took our message to Westminster and secured meetings in Westminster with Ministers including the Secretary of State for Local Government.
This campaign had some success in securing changes to the formula for calculating Government funding to avoid negative revenue support grant.
We would do exactly that again if we were elected to run the Council.
However, there is a difference in the funding the Council gets from the Government and the total revenue money they have to spend, that includes other forms of income such as Council tax; this is known as Core Spending Power.
Wokingham’s Core Spending Power is more per household than any other Council in Berkshire except Slough and it is more than most Unitary authorities in England.
This year, our Core Spending Power rose by 7% – more than the average increase in England.
Since the Conservatives left office, Wokingham’s Core Spending Power has increased by £23.8 million.
We didn’t cut resident services, so with more money the Liberal Democrats shouldn’t be cutting services either. But they are.
As a result of the funding formula, Wokingham is more reliant on Council Tax than other areas.
The Council should be straight with residents who pay that tax.
In communication with residents, Liberal Democrats have not been clear on the difference between Government funding and the total money the Council has to spend on services.
Councillors should all lobby Government for our area, but it is wrong to misrepresent the Council’s overall financial position to residents. And it is not right to cause alarm to residents and staff with casual references to bankruptcy and redundancy.
Last year, when voters were going to the polls, Wokingham Liberal Democrats promised residents they would “offer financial competence and compassion”.
They have done neither.
The previous Conservative administration delivered the first school to be built in the Borough for half a century and we were on track to deliver the new Sixth Form at Bohunt School.
When the Liberal Democrats inherited the plans, they said they were committed to delivering the extra places and new Sixth Form, yet, efforts stalled and costs mounted. They failed to deliver Bohunt Sixth Form, and only told pupils at the eleventh hour in July that they would need to find alternative Sixth Form places for September.
Businesses have repeatedly said that they believe the Liberal Democrats hike in parking charges is affecting trade in our town centres. But the Liberal Democrat Executive Member proudly announced they were funding free bus travel in December, with the Council paying for shoppers to spend their money in other towns outside of the Borough.
Flats at Carnival Hub have sat empty and half-finished for a staggering 18 months.
This delay has destroyed the profit the Council was set to make. By failing to finish these flats, the Council is letting down those people who are trying to get on the housing ladder.
After this issue was raised by Conservative councillors, work has started again and they will now be finished in 2025, EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATE.
These are not examples of competence or compassion. They are a failure to act, failure to take responsibility, and failure to support Wokingham Borough residents.
This year, their budget, like last year’s, offers residents less but will cost you more. While inflation is currently at 3.4%, the Council’s fees and charges will increase on average 8%.
The cost of parking is again increasing, most notably in our country parks, expect it to cost you 15% more.
In May, residents will get their chance to bring about change.
They will have the choice to elect a Conservative administration that will always put the community first, will restore sound administration of the Council’s finances, and will deliver the best for Wokingham Borough.
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen is the leader of Wokingham Conservatives on Wokingham Borough Council and ward member for Hillside
