LibDem-run Kingston Council forced through their budget at a meeting of the full Council on the 27th February 2024. The response from Conservative Councillor Ian George was as follows:
Budget Council is always a good time to review how the Council has done throughout the year, and how this budget will affect it. Let’s start with:
The massive increases in parking charges for car parks, and for people parking outside their homes, that are proposed. The money has already been banked in this budget, yet the full details, are being kept quiet until after the budget has been approved. A sneaky way to introduce 25%, even 50% parking increases in some instances, on our residents.
In Windsor and Maidenhead, where similar extreme punitive LibDem parking taxes were increased each year, actual parking income has increased. However, unsurprisingly, the number of people using the town centre shops and businesses, has declined dramatically.
Kingston’s LibDems are putting the very viability of our town centres at risk.
Forcing, not encouraging, people to cycle and use public transport is what is going on here.
More money is being spent on road closure schemes, diverting more and more traffic onto fewer roads. At the same time Kingston Council is not being proactive in managing necessary road closures. Is it any wonder that Kingston residents are spending more and more time sitting in traffic jams.
Many residents are moving away from unnecessary car trips through choice, but still require the occasional use of a car.
And what is the other option? Buses, cycling and walking.
But those same LibDem traffic jams, cause bus delays too. The LibDems have limited and cancelled many of the proposed cycle hangars, making it impossible for many flat dwellers to use a bike. And the budget for fixing potholes and pavement defects has been syphoned off – apparently much of the previously agreed money isn’t required. Roads will become more dangerous to cycle on, and pavements less safe to walk on. So much for encouraging people to leave their cars at home.
Waste bins: The LibDem Council’s charge to replace the larger bins has now increased from £18 to £56. An increase of over 300%. Everyone knows the main reason for damaged bins is the way they are emptied and left by those emptying them, and through wear and tear. This is just another sneaky LibDem tax.
LibDem Kingston charges the highest council tax, increased by the maximum amount allowed.
No attempt has been made to keep it lower, as we were told a year ago you were budgeting on another maximum increase. And so it’s come to pass. And just a week or so ago, there is already talk of budgeting on a maximum increase for next 3 years at least. There is no longer any pretence of trying to save the Kingston taxpayer money.
LibDem Kingston after this budget:
- Where our town centres continue to suffer from underinvestment, both in finances and in care.
- Where, residents live without a swimming pool for five years - and counting.
- Where potholes get left unfixed.
- Where streets aren’t properly maintained or cleaned.
- Where, despite massive council tax increases, borrowing is going through the roof.
- Where Libraries become part-time and close at short notice.
- Where graffiti and rubbish is no longer dealt with urgently.
- Where defective road crossings and belisha beacons take 6 months or more to fix.
- Where the Local Plan got put on the backburner, leaving us defenceless against some large developers.
- Where council properties get flogged off, only for the council to have to pay rent for new offices.
- Where many people live in terrible housing, and the council constantly gets hauled up in front of the Ombudsman for poor management.
This budget does nothing to help, in fact it makes things worse.
