In my last blog I challenged our local Lib Dems to respond positively to the needs of Shepton Mallet and to come forward with any ideas that they may have. I am prepared to work with anyone who has the interests of the town at heart and who will work without prejudice for the good of the community.
To say that I've been disappointed so far is an understatement. Our new councillors website is still filled with daily vitriol against anything Conservative and against Shepton Mallet as a town, this is especially disappointing, and shows that the lessons have not been learned after being branded "distasteful and un-professional" by the Standards Board last week. It is full of postings that attempt to drive the reputation of Shepton Mallet into the ground, it does nothing to promote harmony in the town and is engaged in a personal campaign to destroy the reputation of Cllr Edward James.
The website also complains bitterly about Somerset County Council, and bemoans the announcements regarding the round of spending cuts that are to come over the next 4 years.
The utter hypocrisy of the Lib Dems is there for all of us to see. When they were kicked out of the County Council in 2009 they left behind a debt of £400 million after 16 years of uncontrolled spending. They now bleat about the cuts that will come over the next 4 years and I have to ask "who is responsible"?
The interest payments on the £400 million of Lib Dem debt equates to very nearly 20% of all of the council tax that the county council collects each year, thats just the interest, it doesn't tackle the debt its self, that will have to be paid down as well. So 20% of all of our taxes go to the banks in interest, that is money that can't be used for social care, road repairs or libraries, then on top of this huge chunk of money the council has to deal with the cuts coming down the pipe from the coalition government.
That's right the cuts are "coalition cuts" which the Lib Dems are fully signed up to and Danny Alexander, Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury is "cutter in chief", he has designed most of the cuts in public spending that are so necessary.
Somerset County Council have massive problems that must be dealt with, 20% interest payments on top of 7.1% year on year savings that must be made. The decisions that have to be made are difficult, and will inevitably impact on the lives of the staff who will lose their jobs and the residents who will see an impact on services, but there is no alternative. The council must live within its means and the only options it has is to either cut spending or raise taxes, it probably will have to do a combination of both, but with pressure to keep taxes low to help boost the recovery, this weapon will be negated for the most part.
If you object to a plan that has been put forward then you must have an alternative to be taken seriously, otherwise you are just another voice of dissention without any responsibility. The situation that the county council finds its self in is largely the fault of the Lib Dems, the Conservatives will take the decisions to sort the situation out over the medium term, it's just a shame the Lib Dems didn't have a thought as to how they would pay back their debts when they went on their 16 year spending spree.
Cllr Parham - You're under 2 misperceptions. I run one blog - it's available to all at www.garfieldkennedy.com and you can take issue with it as much as you choose. The feelings of many people are being expressed on the standup4shepton site and I have indeed posted there and identified myself. I note that our new Conservative councillor also posts there amongst many others. Comforting yourself that this blog is not representative of a substantial section of disillusioned Sheptonians will lose you your seat! You also crow about the Tory win in Chilcompton. In fact there was a substantial swing even greater than in my own election in July away from your party. Our supporters were not bussed for a photo shoot. Rather they could smell the scent of victory and were there through their commitment and enthusiasm - and yes, had Tom Buckley captured just a few more votes, we would have taken a happy picture! It was notable that the Lib Dem supporters came from a wide range of ages as opposed to the grey men in suits on your team, none of whom looked all that pleased with your hollow victory.
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