Why would Teignbridge council’s legion of Tories not back the council’s budget that puts a freeze on council tax, doesn’t increase car park charges, gives under 16s £1 special to use leisure facilities in the summer and Easter breaks, continues CCTV support to combat anti-social behaviour, keeps the grants for Teignbridge Citizens Advice Bureau and the Council for Voluntary Service as well as others, and has £250,000 additional funds for Dawlish regeneration? Oh, of course they’re Tories and would like to see the libraries closed, fees hiked, and grants withdrawn (you see where we’re going with this).
The Teignbridge budget was approved by 25 votes for and none against, with the all 17 of the Tories doing their best by abstaining – how’s that for democracy in action in these difficult times?
Jeremy Christophers, Conservative Leader, said a ‘steady hand on the tiller is needed’ and added ‘this budget plots the right course’ before continuing ‘on the face of it, it is financially sound’. Having welcomed the budget, it was then perhaps surprising that the Conservatives abstained.
So maybe they don’t support their constituents not having to pay more for council services. That must not fit into the Tory mindset of the moment. Perhaps if their constituents were paying more to private companies, the Teignbridge Tories would be right behind it?
They are also not for funding spending a penny (that’s public toilets, by the way). Nor for keeping the Rural Aid grant and the Councillors’ Community Fund. Or that the outdoor pools in Kingsteignton, Bovey Tracey, Moretonhampstead and Chudleigh will receive £2,500 this year.
The council is debt free and recycling has increased – in the top 10 performing councils in the country with the lowest cost of collection of any district council in Devon – just 80p a week! And Teignbridge managed to deliver the most affordable housing of any Devon district council last year – 174.
But it’s not all rosy in the Teignbridge budget – the new Devon County Council bus concessionary fare scheme will revert to a 9.30am start rather than the 9am start that was happening in Teignbridge.
Boo! No wonder the Tories sat on their hands!
(image: Teignbridge Council’s Old Forde House)
Come and enjoy Devon – book a hotel and get away!
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