Lib Dems would reduce glossy publicity and spend more on key services for Nottingham people

9.54.00pm GMT Mon 8th Mar 2010

The Liberal Democrat Group has announced its budget amendment for the upcoming 2010/11 financial year, which makes over £10 million worth of changes on what the Council will spend its money on. The amendment focuses on improving key services for local people whilst slashing the amount of glossy publicity produced by Nottingham City Council. It also pledges to keep Victoria Leisure Centre open.

The Lib Dem Group would invest an extra £225,000 in occupational therapy provision, and a £200,000 increase for tree trimming in the City. The Group would also cancel several Labour decisions, including a £300,000 cut-back on road maintenance, and a plan to charge residents for a first replacement wheelie-bin.

Lib Dem Group leader, Cllr Gary Long, said: "To cut £300,000 from the road maintenance budget after a very icy and damaging winter period is madness. We need more investment in road maintenance programs, not less."

On the plans to charge for the replacement of wheelie-bins, Cllr Alex Foster said: "This is a shocking decision by the Labour Group. People could end up being charged for being a victim of crime if their bin is stolen. It's daft and unfair. We decided to oppose it straight away."

The Lib Dems have pledged to save over £350,000 by cutting-down the Council's communications and marketing. The Arrow magazine would only come out every two months (cut from 10 issues a year to six), the Proud campaign would be scrapped, and another £104,000 would be saved from corporate marketing and corporate communications.

Cllr Long said: "What makes a city proud is the way it looks after its people, not huge stickers on the side of lorries telling people that they are proud. This Council should stop plastering buzz-words on bus-shelters and pump the money back into services."

Also under the Lib Dem plans, Victoria Leisure Centre would be kept open and refurbished, rather than rebuilt. This would save over £6 million which would be channelled into extra spending on road resurfacing and street cleaning equipment.

Notes for editors

Headlines of the Liberal Democrat Group budget amendment…

Make the Arrow magazine bi-monthly and more informative (save £179,000)

Keep Victoria Leisure Centre open for 2010-11 by refurbishing rather than rebuilding

Completely stop the Proud campaign (save £35,000)

Reverse decision to charge residents for first replacement wheelie-bins

Invest an extra £225,000 in occupational therapy provision

Invest an extra £200,000 for tree trimming

Reverse decision to cut £300,000 from the highways maintenance schedule, and also invest an extra £6 million capital into resurfacing roads & pavements

Create a Green Living Centre in Nottingham which would provide advice and education for people on environmental issues

£104,000 other savings on corporate marketing and communications

Reverse decision to cut £147,000 in youth activities

Reverse a decision to cut £103,000 from the business support fund