THE ‘spiral of decline’ budget was slammed by Royal Borough opposition members as the ruling Conservatives approved the 2021/22 finances and cuts.

The opposing Liberal Democrats and Independents were outvoted 21 to 19 at a full council meeting on Tuesday, February 23 – but many scolded the Tory administration and spoke of distaste of the proposals, which will come into force from April 1.

Not only will there be an increase in council tax of 4.99 per cent, but multiple libraries will also see their opening hours reduced, the number of community wardens decreased, the arts grant will be removed later in the year, the SMILE charity will have funds ceased, amongst many others.

Four libraries are also in danger of being closed depending on a 12-week consultation and cabinet’s decision.

READ MORE: Windsor & Maidenhead Council approves 2021/22 budget

The ‘spiral of decline’ budget or the ‘small state’ budget?

Cllr Simon Werner (Lib Dem: Pinkneys Green)

Cllr Simon Werner (Lib Dem: Pinkneys Green)

The leader of Lib Dems, councillor Simon Werner (Pinkneys Green) said the development of the 2021/22 budget following the council’s financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic made it the “toughest budget” he has ever experienced.

Councillor Andrew Johnson (Con: Hurley & Walthams) accused the opposition of not bringing forward any ‘genuine’ alternatives to their saving proposals, saying the opposition plays “party politics for party politics sake”.

“This could’ve been a great opportunity to open up collegiate working. Sadly you [the Conservatives] didn’t take that opportunity,” Cllr Werner responded.

“Every alternative suggestion was rubbished. You said we were being negative – playing politics.

“The thing is, it’s not playing politics to try and save our libraries, our community wardens, to save the grants for Norden Farm, the Old Court, and the SMILE programme.

“It’s actually called doing what we all promised.”

He added: “That is why you attack us so much because we disagree. We have different world views and that’s good. That’s democracy.”

READ MORE: The areas of Maidenhead without any new coronavirus cases

Usually, Cllr Werner gives the budgets a name, such as last year’s ‘Titanic budget’.

He said: “This year, what could it be? Spiral of decline budget or maybe small state budget?”

‘You ignored our warnings’

Slough Observer: Cllr Lynne JonesCllr Lynne Jones

The Conservatives said these saving proposals were ‘difficult’ to make – but the 2021/22 budget will still allow the council to support the vulnerable and its services.

The leader of the Independents, councillor Lynne Jones (Old Windsor), said closing down services such as the libraries and day-centres while reducing the service budget by half, is not ‘supporting’ services in her book.

She said: “In this budget, we are seeing cuts proposed to day-centres, arts centres, community programmes, libraries, bin collections, youth Services, council tax discounts, community wardens, flower displays.

“And there has been increased charges for parking permits, green waste and services to schools.

“The promised review of ‘discounted resident parking’ has not seen the light of day and more severe cuts are to follow… and apparently, this is ‘success’.”

She also said Covid-19 did not affect the council’s finances last year and the £3 million underspend is contingency brought forward from the previous budget as government ensured they will cover all costs and loss of income disrupted by Covid-19 throughout the year.

READ MORE: Slough cabinet approves 4.99 council tax hike in 2021/22 budget

While acknowledging the ‘difficult’ decisions, Cllr Jones scolded the administration for slashing services to their bare minimum despite warnings she and the opposition made over the years.

She said: “You were warned about the rising demand on Social Care and Waste, about the officer redundancies and the hollowing out of the core of the council, that excessive borrowing without a cohesive repayment plan was opening the council up to extensive borrowing costs… and you ignored those warnings.”

Cllr Jones urged cabinet members not to ‘mislead’ the public after voting for the saving proposals, only then to mount a public campaign against them as seen in recent weeks.

‘This is spin, spin, spin’

Slough Observer: Cllr Helen PriceCllr Helen Price

During the meeting, the ruling Conservatives praised the borough’s first ever public consultation on the budget, saying the feedback they received from residents, businesses, the voluntary sector, and others, helped shaped the proposals.

However, councillor Helen Price (the Borough First: Clewer & Dedworth East) said the consultation only received over 800 response, far less compared to the thousands of signatures submitted against the proposals.

She said it was ‘spin’ to suggest the consultation shaped the budget, particularly removing the controversial rural cark park charges and increasing funding in the arts.

Cllr Price said residents were never asked about cuts to the art funding in the consultation and the feedback on the rural car parks came fifth in resident’s concerns.

The top four concerns – which includes swapping weekly black bin collections to fortnightly, community wardens, and more – are still going ahead despite the feedback.

“To claim that the voice of the residents are being listened to is just spin,” said Cllr Price.

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She also slammed the administration for only consulting with three voluntary groups out of hundreds in the Royal Borough about the budget and its implications.

Cllr Price said: “We just don’t know the impact of the proposed cuts on our voluntary sector and the vulnerable community they support.

“We don’t know because they weren’t asked and to pretend otherwise is just spin.”

She added: “To pretend that this is a budget to protect the vulnerable is spin, spin, spin.”