HARLOW Labour has published its alternative budget for the town.

Shadow portfolio holder, cllr Mike Danvers will be making a presentation at Thursday night’s council meeting in response to the ruling Conservative groups’s proposals.

Labour Group Alternative Budget Proposals 2022/23

The Labour Group proposes an alternative General Fund budget for 2022/23 which –

1. Proposes a 1.99% Council Tax Increase for 2022/23. The Labour Group believes this is essential to safeguard the Councils financial position in the medium term and avoid the £1m budget deficiency that will be created by the Conservatives General Fund Budget and MTFS proposals to freeze council tax.
2. Will remove the need to contribute £335,000 of New Homes Bonus to the Budget Resilience Reserve to help cover future impacts of the Conservative Administrations council tax freeze
3. Will reinstate £1,355,000 back in to reserves, currently proposed to be used to support the Efficiency Dividend and Estates Renewal Fund within the Conservative Administrations budget. The Labour Group would utilise these additional reserves to help support the Councils Regeneration agenda over the next 3 -5 years.
4. Will invest in services to improve the local area for our residents using £350,000 of New Homes Bonus to support the one off investments in Playgrounds, Climate Change, Parking and School Breakfasts initiatives detailed below. This replaces the £363,000 Estates Renewal Fund which has been funded from reserves in the Conservative Administration budget with no detailed plans for any investment –
   •   £43,000 for an additional Community Safety Officer post.
   •   Reduced costs of services for Green Waste (£67,000) and Crematoria (£50,000) to serviceusers.
   •   £100,000 investment in Playgrounds
   •   £100,000 investment in Climate change initiatives to deliver the Climate Emergencyagenda.
   •   £100,000 support for residents parking by reducing the cost of dropped Kerbs.
   •   £50,000 to provide support for a pilot scheme for free school breakfasts to ensure no childgoes hungry.
5. Will contribute £815,000 of New Homes Bonus to the Discretionary Fund to further extend the fund life and give more protection to valued local services for our residents.
6. Ensure that arrangements with the Crematorium operator are renegotiated as provided for within the contract resulting in the £50,000 additional income included in the Conservatives Administrations budget to support the introduction of reduced charges to help bereaved residents.
7. Remove the demand for Voluntary Organisations to demonstrate efficiency savings to enable Partnership Grants to be accessed from the reports.

For more details, click below.

https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/documents/b4656/Supplementary%20Agenda%202%20-%20Labour%20Group%20Alternative%20Budget%2003rd-Feb-2022%2019.30%20Council.pdf?T=9