Conservative says ‘no confidence’ in council’s finances after Reform’s ‘false’ net zero claims

The opposition leader at Walsall Council has accused Reform UK of ‘misleading’ the public over net zero claims.

Prior to the local elections in May, Reform said that ‘the Conservatives running Walsall Council had spent over £23million in pursuit of net zero’.

During the campaign, the group vowed to ‘end the net zero madness at Walsall Council’.

At a public meeting earlier this year, Conservative group leader Councillor Adrian Andrew asked Reform leader, Councillor Elaine Williams, for a breakdown of the figure.

In her written response, 13 projects were listed during a three year period totalling £23.796million.

However, just £726,571 of the grand total, or three per cent, was actually funded by Walsall Council. The other 97 per cent was externally funded by the government.

Councillor Andrew said: “They are claiming the Conservative administration spent council taxpayers money, £23million of it, on net zero. It is false, but I think we’re getting used to that now after nearly six months.

“It’s another example of misleading the public. Although it’s still taxpayers money, a huge majority of that came from national government.

“If they’re going to accuse us of anything, they need to make sure they’ve got it right. I’d like a clarification but I won’t hold my breath.”

Councillor Andrew said Reform’s net zero claim gives him ‘absolutely no confidence’ in the group’s management of the council’s circa £850million budget.

He added that the statement suggests Reform did not understand the difference between external funding and council funding.

Councillor Andrew said: “I’m not entirely sure they understand it even now with some of the things we’re seeing. The proof will be in the pudding when we see what the outcome of the budget consultation is.

“I don’t think there’s much confidence around that council chamber that they know what they’re doing as an administration. Some of their own people haven’t even got confidence, hence why they left their group.”

Councillor Elaine Williams responded: “It is disappointing that Councillor Andrew has chosen to allege that Reform has not got its facts right when his own statement contains inaccuracies.

“Two Reform councillors were expelled from the party – they did not choose to leave.

“The Freedom of Information Act answer we received stated the total amount of money Walsall Council has spent on its pledge to achieve net zero by 2041 is £23,462,910 as at the date the answer was provided.

“It doesn’t matter whether Councillor Andrew has confidence about the finances or indeed anything else – what matters is that Reform is delivering for our residents.”

By Rachel Alexander | Local Democracy Reporting Service