Cllr Paul Fisher, Cabinet Member for Value for Money and Finance, has written to residents setting out the scale of the financial challenge facing Westminster City Council, and why the administration wants the public's help deciding where to focus limited resources.
Writing in the Westminster Extra, Cllr Fisher said the national Labour government is cutting £100 million in funding from Westminster City Council, calling it "a direct attack on the services Westminster residents rely on every day." That comes on top of what he describes as the financial legacy left by the previous Labour administration locally, including £27 million wasted on the Geoffrey Osborne contractor failure, a £3 million overspend on a Church Street demolition contract, and a £19 million council tax freeze he called "an election gimmick that stored up pain for residents."
"Westminster Conservatives believe in keeping council tax low and delivering the services residents rely on," he wrote, "but we cannot do both without making difficult decisions about where to focus our resources." He was clear that the council will not make those decisions "behind closed doors," and is instead asking residents directly which services matter most to them.
The survey is open until 5 pm on 30 September, with responses set to shape how the council prioritises next year's budget.
Tough choices ahead: why we're asking residents to help set budget priorities
Cllr Paul Fisher, Westminster's Cabinet Member for Value for Money and Finance, explains
When Westminster Conservatives took office in May, we promised to be straight with residents about the financial situation we were inheriting, and that promise starts here.
Labour's own government is imposing deep cuts to local services, taking £100million in funding from Westminster City Council. That is a direct attack on the services Westminster residents rely on every day.
And it comes on top of the reckless financial legacy the previous Labour administration left behind.
Westminster Labour left us with a legacy of overspend and reckless waste: — £27million wasted on the Geoffrey Osborne contractor failure; — £3million overspent on a Church Street demolition contract; and — a £19million council tax freeze election gimmick that stored up pain for residents.
That is the inheritance. And now it means we face tough choices that will impact local people. Same old Labour, nationally and locally, and residents are left to deal with the consequences.
Westminster Conservatives believe in keeping council tax low and delivering the services residents rely on. But we cannot do both without making difficult decisions about where to focus our resources.
We will not make those decisions behind closed doors. We want to hear from you directly which services matter most to you. Your answers will shape how we prioritise Westminster's budget. This is your council, and these are your services. Westminster Conservatives will always govern responsibly, listen to local people and deliver on their priorities.
You can tell us what matters most at: www.westm.news/BC
The survey is open until 5 pm September 30.
Read Cllr Paul Fisher's article in Westminster Extra here.
