"Arrogant" Lib Dems Accused of Adopting Budget before being agreed by Council

20 February 2007

Cambridge's Liberal Democrat Councillors have been branded as "arrogant" and accused of assuming a presidential style administration for publishing the City's Council budget before it has been debated, agreed and adopted by all Councillors later this week.

The Leader of the Labour Group on the City Council, Cllr Lewis Herbert said:

"On Thursday 22 February there is to be a full meeting of the Council. At that meeting we will debate, consider and adopt the Councils budget for the coming year. As a result of that debate the Council tax payers of Cambridge will learn how much Council tax they will have to pay."

"But today the Liberal Democrats have preempted the result of the democratic process and have published on the world wide web their budget document which tells everyone exactly what they "will" be implementing and what effects this "will" have on the people of Cambridge. This is a full 48 hours before any democratic decision is made. They are acting in a cavalier manner and adopting a presidential mode of government and completely ignoring the democratic process. They seem to have forgotten that they are not the only political party in Cambridge."

Cllr Ben Bradnack added: "The Liberal Democrats have waved good bye to the democratic process, they clearly believe that no one else elected to Cambridge City Council has the ability or inclination to provide meaningful and constructive input into the Council's budget setting process."

"This is a sad day for the democratic process."