News from Camden Labour

Fury at Lib Dem Town Hall pay hike bid

Camden Liberal Democrat councillors voted their colleagues on three panels a pay hike of £5000 a year despite ‘credit crunch’ pressures on the council’s budget for local services and local people’s fears about unemployment.

Out-of-touch councillors want more money for their work at Town Hall, despite their panels not having any decision-making powers.

Meanwhile, Camden is one of the only councils not to have developed a proper economic plan to help local businesses and residents through the recession. Other councils have helped homeowners, created jobs or cut council tax or charges.

Camden currently doesn’t have a plan to help the local economy, despite having large reserves. Camden has amassed some of the highest budget reserves around – £80 million – by cutting services over the last three years.

Even so, this year the council plans to cut social care budgets for older people by £1 million and raise fees and charges for other services.

Labour says that money saved by doing less should be given back to local people in the form of a council tax rebate in April.

Labour opposition finance spokesperson Theo Blackwell said:

“At a time when people are feeling the pinch, the Lib Dems should not be voting themselves bigger pay packets.

“It’s doubly wrong that the Lib Dem councillors, presiding over massive reserves, haven’t yet come up with a plan to help local businesses and residents with the downturn, but have worked up a nice fiscal stimulus for themselves!”

Other news from Camden Labour

• Camden's 'flipping' developers should shock local taxpayers - 1 March 2010
• Camden wins biggest boost to council housing - 14 September 2009
• Camden Belsize Park council flats 'flipped' by developers - 1 September 2009