Lib Dems Listen to the Public

11.01.00pm GMT Fri 15th Feb 2008

Milton Keynes Council's Liberal Democrat cabinet has taken action to address the views expressed by local residents in the recent budget consultation. As a result, some changes have been made to the cabinet's final budget proposals.

The council tax increase proposed by the Liberal Democrats remains at 3.9%. This pegs the council tax rise at inflation again, using the inflation rate applied by the Government to increase the old age pension for 2008/09

Over the last six weeks the Council has been consulting the public on the cabinet's spending and council tax proposals. We thank all those who took the time to give us their views. Specific alternative proposals from the Council's Conservative and Labour Groups were included in the consultation, to reflect the political balance on the Council.

Councillor Isobel McCall, Liberal Democrat Council Leader said: "I am delighted there is overall support for all of our proposals for additional investment. We will be including them all in our final budget. They include more money to tackle antisocial behaviour, and to keep the 'Litter Busters' scheme running.

"There was public concern about the savings we proposed in our draft budget on the library book fund and the Music Service. The Liberal Democrats have listened to public responses to the consultation and we removing the cut to the book fund and reducing the savings on the Music Service. Since we started the budget consultation, the Government has announced that it is investing more money in our Music Service, and we will be matching the Government's increased funding. The Music Service is clearly valued by a number of residents.

"There was public support for some of the suggestions made by the Conservative and Labour Groups. Where there was strong public support and the proposals were not already reflected in the Liberal Democrat's draft budget, we have amended our budget to accommodate these proposals. The public have given us a clear message that they want to see more investment in community safety, and in working with young people. We have added an extra £50,000 for each of these, on top of the additional money we were already planning to spend. The community safety money will be spent on taking on two additional community safety wardens."