A TWEET by one of the borough’s four MPs has been criticised for being misleading by the leader of Wokingham Borough Council, and by social media users.
Sir John Redwood, the MP for Wokingham, shared a new year message on his social media this morning, calling on the Lib Dem-run administration to boost services while reducing council tax charges – despite knowing that the council is the lowest funded unitary authority in the country.
His tweet read: “I wish my local Council would resolve to serve us better and charge us less in 2023.
“I fear they will instead dream up new ways to make our lives more difficult, worsen services and put up the taxes and charges.”
I wish my local Council would resolve to serve us better and charge us less in 2023. I fear they will instead dream up new ways to make our lives more difficult, worsen services and put up the taxes and charges.
— John Redwood (@johnredwood) December 31, 2022
As is the nature of social media, there were many responses.
Among the first was the Wokingham Lib Dem account, who said: “Our councillors have maintained free school meals in holidays, kept libraries open, and supported those your government has failed.
“What have you done other than spout nonsense on Twitter?”
Our councillors have maintained free school meals in holidays, kept libraries open, and supported those your government has failed.
What have you done other than spout nonsense on Twitter?
— Wokingham Lib Dems (@wokinghamlibdem) December 31, 2022
Nick Kilby asked: “I wonder if you would have said that when the conservatives ran it. I cannot see anything different in the last year which is why I would complain!”
Ian Brown pointed out the issue is not limited to Wokingham.
“Local authority ‘spending power’ – that is, the amount of money local authorities have to spend from government grants, council tax, and business rates – has fallen by 16% since 2010. Largely because of reductions in central government grants.”
'Local authority ‘spending power’ – that is, the amount of money local authorities have to spend from government grants, council tax, and business rates – has fallen by 16% since 2010.'
'Largely because of reductions in central government grants.'https://t.co/WfeB6Hmyrg pic.twitter.com/SSJwoP7SfI
— Ian Brown ???????? @ianbrown@mastodonapp.uk (@ianboogiebrown) December 31, 2022
And Dave Lawrence wrote: “So the local council then is having to raise its charges due to a loss of income from the Government and the impacts of inflation with budgets not amended to compensate.
“I think you will find that is down to the 12 years of Tory rule.”
So the local council then is having to raise it's charges due to a loss of income from the Government and the impacts of inflation with budgets not amended to compensate.
I think you will find that is down to the 12 years of Tory rule.— dave lawrence ???????????? (@dave43law) December 31, 2022
In May’s local elections, Wokingham Borough Council went to no overall control after the Conservatives lost their majority by one.
It is currently ruled by a partnership agreement that allows the Liberal Democrats to run the ruling executive, with committees chaired by members of the Labour group and the independents.
The Lib Dems said on taking over the council, they found an immediate funding deficit which has since grown to an estimated £4 million. The local government settlement grant announced before Christmas implied that the cash from Westminster will not be enough and it is possible the council will need to raise council tax by the maximum amount allowed – nearly 5%.
Wokingham Borough Council leader Cllr Clive Jones said that Sir John’s short tweet doesn’t tell the whole story not just about local government finances, but the nation’s financial predicament, and by suggesting it was the Lib Dem-run administration’s fault it was an attempt to pass the blame.
“As ever he forgets the massive damage inflicted on us by his Conservative government,” Cllr Jones said.
“Energy bills have doubled in the last year with many rising by over £1,000 in Wokingham. The average mortgage in Wokingham is set to rise by nearly £500 a month and the cost of food is rocketing and has been now for many months.
“Of course, Sir John and his fellow Conservatives would like to blame this on anyone except themselves.”
Mr Jones continued: “He also knows, but perhaps conveniently forgets that Wokingham Borough Council is and continues to be the lowest funded unitary authority in the country. A position that we have been in for many years under this Conservative government.
“What has he done to reverse this chronic lack of cash and investment in Wokingham from his government? Sadly, nothing.
“He’ll also know that after 20 years of the Conservatives running the council here, they have left the councils finances in a mess. They left a deficit of £2.3m, 18 unfunded bus services and a shortfall of £1.3m to complete their Winnersh Park & Ride project. Something that they kept secret.
“All this adds up to a shortfall of £4m plus. They had used the general reserve to fill some of the gap for 2022.”
Cllr Jones added: “The previous Conservative administration has also left other serious budget shortfalls which we are working hard to address.
“The Conservatives has shown their incompetence in running the national economy, they have shown the same incompetence here in Wokingham with the local council finances.”
“Following the recent budget – not the disastrous Truss/Kwartang/Redwood budget which forced up interest rates – the government failed to find extra money for local councils so they could deal with rising costs and inflation at over 10%.
“The government’s solution has been to raise the cap on council tax increases from 3% to 5%. They claim that this will provide extra cash for local authorities. The government which John Redwood supports now expects local councils to increase council tax by 5%.
“Wokingham’s current MP Sir John Redwood has once again shown himself to be totally out of touch with residents in his constituency and in the borough.
“The Conservatives really do need to accept the blame for trashing the economy nationally and locally for leaving the councils finances in a mess. Tweets like Sir John’s are inaccurate and very misleading, but then we have come to expect this from him.”
