It’s amazing how many Conservatives are coming out of the woodwork at the last minute asking for Council money to save their library. Much of this will be discussed at tomorrow’s Council ‘Budget’ Meeting, and personally I don’t wish to add to all the hot political air that will be expressed at this occasion – there will be plenty of that without my contribution (!) – so I’ll put my thoughts on the subject here:

1 No proposal exists in a vacuum. Anyone who puts forward a proposal that requires expenditure should be prepared to say exactly where the money for it will come from. No matter how noble the proposal may be, giving it money will either require taking it away from something else equally noble or raising council tax, that is, if we want to avoid setting an illegal budget and going to jail!

2 Rather than asking for money for this here and more money for this there, why haven’t the Conservatives produced an alternative budget like we did when we were in opposition?

3 These cuts are not exactly unexpected or sudden. They are the symptoms of a Conservative Party that believes in small government and in rolling back the state. If local Conservative councillors did not want to see their libraries closed, why did they actively support a Party who’s philosophy and policies would inevitably lead to library closures.

4 What have they been doing to ensure that the great services taking place in these libraries are maintained going forward? Have they been in touch with voluntary and community organisations to produce a plan to ensure the buildings are kept going once the library service has ceased? The plans for closures have been on the table for at least a number of months, enough time to put together a plan of action rather than just asking the Council for last minute hand-outs.

It’s time for the Conservatives to stop pretending to be the people’s friend (when their policies have created the situation we’re in) and to work practically to save the services they say they care about.

Content published and promoted by Roy Sheward on behalf of Dan Barker (Liberal Democrats) all at 144 Redhouse Lane, Walsall, WS5 0DB