Labour called out the repeated failures and shameful wastes of taxpayers’ money of the Tory-led Coalition running Durham County Council, as it finalised a controversial budget.
Labour members had called on councillors to reject the budget – narrowly passed at today’s Full Council meeting – which they say, “addresses none of the county’s problems, causes new ones and pours cash into Durham City at the expense of towns and villages.”
Labour Leader, Cllr Carl Marshall, said Coalition spending plans were, once again, weighted towards the wards of Coalition leaders and claimed the alliance of Lib Dems, Tories and Independents had, forgotten everything beyond the boundaries of the city.
He said:
“14 years of Tory cuts and three years of mismanagement under this Coalition, has seen inequality across County Durham grow, hope squashed and opportunity squandered.
“A decade of Tory cuts has lowered life expectancy across the North East as unemployment rose. Wages stagnated as jobs dried up. Poverty spiralled as conditions like depression, strokes, heart disease, cancer and dementia were 10% higher in County Durham.
“By any measure, this government has failed our region and our county and by any measure this Coalition of Tory-enablers has done the same – this budget will only exacerbate it. The health gap in particular has grown – our lives get shorter, while those in wealthier places like Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, get longer.
“This budget is about priorities and Coalition priorities are pulling money from communities facing hardship and channelling it into some of the most beautiful areas of County Durham.”
Labour Deputy Leader, Cllr Rob Crute, added:
“Since 2010, our council has been stripped of jobs and services. Our schools and buildings are held together by sticky tape and prayers. County Durham is on the frontline of a Tory-instigated, LibDem-supported 14-year war on public services, and if you don’t believe me ask our police and fire officers, teachers, nurses, doctors and the people we employ, working here in a building that’s falling apart!
“The Coalition offers no leadership. Decisions are kicked down the road by cabinet, repeated failures to secure Levelling Up funding and a shameful waste of taxpayers’ money on projects that ran way over budget or that were unneeded or unwanted in the first place, like earmarking over £20m for a posh restaurant and art gallery at the former DLI Museum.
“We need a budget addressing our challenges, investing in the future and targeting need. No more political pet projects – investment into our communities, tackling health inequality, child poverty and improving opportunity.”