Folkestone and Hythe District Council Pass 2023 Budget despite Lib Dem Opposition

Commenting on the Lib Dem Group voting against the Folkestone and Hythe Disitrict Council 2023/24 budget at the 22 February Disitrct council budget meeting, Lib Dem Group Leader Tim Prater said:

I'll not be voting for this budget today. I offered the option of my supporting it in December, if we had done the right thing on Princes Parade. I was clear, and my offer was rejected. I'm not for turning now.

"To quote the US Treasury: When there is no deficit or surplus due to spending and revenue being equal, the budget is considered balanced.

"This budget takes £1,786,247 from the General Reserve. That's not income, that's spending savings.

"This is not a balanced budget, despite the repeated references to it being.

"And its not a one off:

"Last year £2.3m was taken from earmarked reserves and £200k taken from general reserves to support the budget then.

"It is maybe, due to spending reserves accumulated over previous years, an affordable budget, but at the cost of shrinking reserves for the future.

"This is not a magic trick: it is, at best, an illusion. It will work a few times. But not for ever. The protection that our services and staff get in this year from stinging cuts by raiding reserves to support our spending will not be available for much longer.

"And finally, Stuart Peall may no longer be living the nightmare of the Veolia 2021 failed service for our rubbish and recycling collections, but its not forgotten either.

"We said then we would be seeking compensation from Veolia. We said in 2022 we would be seeking compensation from Veolia.

"Now we're in 2023 - please: when will we, local residents, see compensation from Veolia?"