Lib Dem leader slams Labour ‘broken record’

Dudley’s Liberal Democrat leader hit back at Labour criticism about a £75,000 consultation into a parish council for Cradley.

The survey was approved by Dudley Council during a debate on the annual budget for the borough which included £42m in savings.

The Lib Dem group on the council voted with the minority Conservative administration to approve the budget, prompting claims the parish council survey was a sweetener to win their support.

When the survey was launched in early September, Dudley’s Labour leader, Cllr Adam Aston posted on Facebook: “Absolutely appalled that Dudley Conservatives in cahoots with the Liberal Democrats approved the use of £75,000 of public money to fund a ‘feasibility study’ into the need for a Parish Council in Cradley.”

Cllr Ryan Priest, leader of the Dudley Lib Dems told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “ It’s the same old broken record you expect from Labour, It’s a bit hypocritical if you look at what the Labour Party has done over the last year.

“We are looking at a tax rise for pensioners, farmers and small businesses.

“If we get a town council Dudley will make a saving because it will be devolving services the town council will pick up so that £75,000 will be made back.”

The launch of the consultation has also annoyed Stourbridge MP and Dudley councillor Cat Eccles, who said: “It’s utterly shameful, especially when they voted in favour of this year’s budget cutting vital support services for our most vulnerable residents.”

Cllr Priest however dismissed the complaints as ‘another case of Labour talking Cradley down’ and added parish councils work well for millions of people around the country.

He was also quick to reject the suggestion it would be tough to persuade Cradley people to pay more council tax to fund a parish council.

Cllr Priest said: “There is a very small tax rise that is ring-fenced, there is no fixed figure, that will be set by the town council, £75 is bandied around because that is the average for Band D properties.

“What they are getting out of it is a lot more than they are getting from Dudley – it is time for a radical idea.”

Cllr Aston sounds unlikely to be convinced, he said: “The last thing our borough needs is another layer of local Government.

"I hope Cradley residents give this self-indulgent twaddle the short shrift it deserves and send a strong message to its instigators at the next election.”