East of England Liberal Democrats

Mayor Reshuffles Cabinet after Conservatives Abandon Residents over Crucial Council Budget

Mayor Dave Hodgson has reshuffled his Cabinet after the Conservative Group on the Council failed to even vote on the crucial Council budget on which he had worked with them throughout the past year. Mayor Dave brought together a Cabinet of all parties on the Council following his re-election in May last year, casting aside party politics in the interest of working together in these difficult times. The Conservative Group have now thrown that back in residents' faces even after Mayor Dave had worked with them all year to set a budget in these difficult times to which protects services and freezes Council tax again.

The breaking of the agreement to work together in support of local communities and deliver a joint budget is the second time the Conservatives have broken a pledge to work together for the good of the Borough. After Mayor Dave's first election victory in 2009, the defeated Conservative candidate made a public pledge that the Tories would work with him for the good of the Borough. Mayor Dave reached out to the Conservatives, who initially indicated their willingness to join his Cabinet, before a shock refusal without even a moment's discussion with the Mayor on working together.

Following the Conservatives' refusal to rise to the challenge to making the important decisions for the Borough, Mayor Dave has moved to reshuffle his Executive of Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent Councillors. Conservative Cllr Roger Rigby leaves the Cabinet, with his Adult Services Portfolio now taken by Labour Cllr Colleen Atkins . The Mayor will take on Cllr Atkins' existing responsibilities other than health reforms, which she retains.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "Despite broken promises in the past from the Conservatives, I was pleased to bring them into the Cabinet last year in order to have all parties working together to meet the unprecedented challenge presented by the current financial situation. However, sadly the Conservatives have proved unwilling to work together in the interests of our communities, and have turned their backs on the task we face at the crucial moment. They have been involved in this process throughout the year, at every stage. Now they have sadly let residents down by failing to even cast a vote when it matters, breaking an agreement to support our communities despite their involvement throughout the process on this joint budget.'

"Their actions in refusing to take responsibility on the most important decision of the year after all the work that has taken place with them contrasts sharply with those of local residents. Residents got involved in budget process, responding in their thousands to give their views on the proposals and shape the budget to ensure we get the best for our Borough in these extremely tough times.'

"I want to thank Cllr Rigby for his work on the Executive. The multi-party Cabinet we move forward with is an extremely strong team, which is well placed to continue to deliver for local residents across Bedford Borough"

Bedford Borough Council Finance Portfolio Holder Cllr Michael Headley added: "Having broken a pledge to work together in support of local residents, how can the Conservatives now be trusted to deliver this joint budget, which is the all-important task which lies ahead? The Tories have a long record locally of spiralling tax increases and poor services, and now in these tough times they reject the opportunity to work together in the cause of keeping tax down and protecting key services for residents. They have offered no alternatives at all, preferring instead to sit on their hands. At a time which demands leadership and responsibility, their response to the unprecedented challenge we face has been to freeze like rabbits caught in the headlights. Faced with the most important decision of the year, they have quite simply bottled it."

The Council's 2012/13 budget was approved by a meeting of the Full Council on Wednesday, despite the Conservative Group's shock abstention. There were no votes against. Last week, at a meeting of the Budget Scrutiny Committee containing Councillors from all parties including the Conservatives, no objections or alternatives were raised.

While delivering the £13 million of savings required this year, the budget freezes Council tax, protects key services which are being cut elsewhere and delivers investment in the Borough's future.