“Out of touch” Lambeth Labour reject Council Tax Discount while protecting councillor allowances

The Lib Dem Group’s “Opposition Budget” proposed to give a 1% Council Tax Discount to residents living in homes in Council Tax bands A to D – as introduced in Labour-run Merton – saving residents a total of £868,000 on their council tax bills.

This would be funded by £1.5m in efficiency savings identified by the Lib Dems, including less spending on external consultants, senior staff pay, and “Special Responsibility Allowances” currently paid to 57% of Lambeth Labour councillors.

Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Council Group Cllr Matthew Bryant slammed Labour over its wasteful spending and said the “Not So Special” allowances were being used to “line the pockets” of Labour politicians.

The Lib Dem Opposition Budget also included plans to:

• Freeze the charges at Lambeth’s leisure centres and give residents under 16 free membership to help address declining life expectancy in the borough.
• Support decarbonisation by installing 250 more electric vehicle charging points and 250 more bike hangars across Lambeth next year.
• Increase the budget for tree maintenance by 30%.
• Tackle period poverty by making period products available in Lambeth council buildings, as many councils around the country have already done.
• Devolve spending decisions down to ward councillors through Local Area Funds.

Councillor Matthew Bryant, Deputy Leader of the Lib Dem Council Group commented:

“Lambeth Labour is completely out of touch for rejecting our plans to give thousands of residents a Council Tax Discount.

“To cap it off, they shamelessly voted to protect so-called “Special Responsibility Allowances” being used to line the pockets of most Lambeth Labour councillors.

“It’s clear these “not so special” allowances shouldn’t be going to junior posts like Deputy Cabinet Members and “Policy Leads”. Our plans would reduce the cost of politics and ensure more money goes to supporting residents’ services.”

Leader of the Lib Dem Council Group, Cllr Donna Harris added:

“Re0sidents will be rightly disappointed Labour blocked Lib Dem proposals to freeze leisure centre charges, turbo-charge the roll out of electric vehicle charging points and bike hangars, and tackle period poverty.

“These policies would support decarbonisation, equality and fairness in our borough and make a real difference to the lives of residents.”