Challenge over 'misleading' and 'disturbing' cost-cutting council plans

A challenge has been mounted against a Labour-led council's money-saving measures, with opposition members saying there has not been enough consultation with residents.

The leadership of Stockton Council recently agreed a set of measures aimed at saving about £4.6m out of a predicted £8.7m financial gap. Some of the changes, including the end of first hour free parking in Stockton and Yarm town centres and new care at home charges, have already sparked opposition and concern.

Now a group of councillors has requested that aspects of the council cabinet's decision be "called in" or reconsidered by the authority before being put into action. Seven Conservative councillors - Diane Clarke, Lynn Hall, Niall Innes, Andrew Sherris, Tony Riordan, Hugo Stratton and Hilary Vickers - have put their names to the challenge seeking "clarity and further information", which will go before a council committee on Tuesday (November 12).

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They accuse the council of not consulting enough with residents. And they say the authority "focuses on the financial position of the council and not the welfare of its people".

The councillors say there is no evidence that the council's decisions will provide efficient services and reduce inequalities: "It is believed this is wording used simply to soften the blow and detract from the main focus of the report, which is to address the financial black hole and problems caused by under-investment and neglect of the issues over many years. The report lacks any consideration of consultation with residents, it lacks an obvious impact assessment that should have been conducted."

The councillors argue the council's Powering Our Future report made a "misleading" statement about charging residents £40 per year for green waste collection from April next year: "The present proposal is to effectively charge the council taxpayer twice for the same service and provide no service for those residents who do not sign up, even though they have and continue to pay for it through council tax."

They ask why the council needs to borrow £1m to buy 40,000 bins if only 30,000 will be needed in the new scheme's first two years, with a figure "not yet been put out to tender". They add: "No consultation has taken place with residents."

'Impact on council reputation'

They also query borrowing £2.3m for a waste transfer station, recycling and food waste containers, and government funding for food waste from 2026 when new laws come into force. They say a site has been bought for a new waste transfer site, said by the council to need £2.5m capital investment, but with a "disturbing" lack of clarity on cost: "It is relevant and appears to have been ignored, or openness was not considered to be important."

They ask about the need to buy 260,000 food caddies for 80,000 households, and the number of waste collection vehicles. The councillors also refer to the end of a cap on charges to residents receiving care at home, to charge the full cost of care to people who can afford it, affecting 49 clients who currently pay the maximum charge, and bring in about £150,000 a year.

The Conservative councillors say this "will target some of our most vulnerable residents, with little or no information contained in the report as to the impacts it will have on the 49 clients. Once again the report focuses on the financial position of the council and not the welfare of its people.

"The targeting of residents who may have some savings to help fill the council's financial predicament is concerning... The response appears to be disproportionate and will impact on the reputation of the council."

'No consultation taken place'

On changes to car parking charges, they say: "No consultation has taken place with residents, ward councillors, business forums and/or businesses regarding the proposed increase in car parking and it is imperative this takes place. Many businesses, and in particular small businesses as found on Yarm High Street, are still in quite a fragile post-covid state and rely heavily on the free hour.

"The Yarm Business Forum is seriously worried by the potential loss in footfall which may well be coupled with an upcoming increase in employers' National Insurance. The proposals may cripple those very enterprises that we are relying on for the viability and growth in Yarm and elsewhere."

Also questioning a £1m figure to resurface Wellington Square car park, they conclude: "The focus of the report remains on resolving the financial predicament it has found itself... rather than improving the outcomes for our communities."

Cllr Riordan, Stockton's Conservative group leader, said: "There are a number of serious concerns raised as a result of recent cabinet decisions. Not only do the sums not add up, but the way in which this Labour-led council have sought to push these changes through without proper scrutiny is very concerning and we question the validity of these decisions.

'Playing politics'

"These measures will harm businesses, affect many vulnerable people who receive care in their own home, and will do little to improve this councils woeful recycling rate. We are calling for these measures to be looked at again and will do all we can to ensure the residents of this borough have their voice heard."

Council leader and Labour group leader Cllr Bob Cook said: "Yet again the Conservatives are proving that their number one interest is not providing a reliable and sustainable council but playing politics. 14 years of Conservative government saw Stockton Borough Council lose over £1bn in funding and as a result we are tasked with finding £9m in savings.

"These are not decisions we wanted to make but have had to no choice but to. If the Conservatives were serious, they would offer alternative suggestions, yet once again they have not."

The criticisms will be considered at a special executive scrutiny committee meeting at 3pm on Tuesday, November 12 at the Jim Cooke Conference Suite in Stockton Central Library.

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