That Tory Slogan - letter to Oxford Mail

3.32.18pm GMT Fri 17th Nov 2006

I was bemused by Cllr. Keith Mitchell's letter in the Oxford Mail on Tuesday November 14th where he rather immodestly congratulated himself on the County Council's 'good' expenditure record. He has a grand sounding slogan but let us subject to it some scrutiny.

As well as low taxes, the Liberal Democrats want to see fairer taxes. After all, a pensioner or family on a low or fixed income will find the inevitable rise in Council Tax next year hard to pay. In comparison, the Lib Dems would abolish Council Tax and replace it with a fair tax based on ability to pay - one that will actually help people on small incomes. Will the Tories commit to abolishing Council Tax completely? No, they have refused.

We all want to see our money spent wisely. The Lib Dem opposition will, of course, be scrutinising every penny spent. For example, is it value for money to spend over ?30,000 on refurbishing flagstones in the Common Hall Cafe at County Hall whilst refusing to spend a penny on a new microphone system so that the public attending Council meetings can actually hear? A strange value being put on taxpayers' money here.

As for real choice, the only choices to be made will be those hard ones around which services shall be axed next year to deliver this agenda. Those most likely to have no choice at all are the vulnerable groups of people in Oxfordshire who will be on the receiving end of those cuts - frail elderly and disabled people and children with special needs. We saw cuts to services for these groups last year, and anticipate this continuing. The Liberal Democrat opposition at the County Council are committed to challenging those 'choices' in the months and years ahead to ensure we serve all the population not just the 34% who voted Conservative.

Yours faithfully

Cllr Zoe Patrick