Response to spin and lies

Posted By: Colin Lambert
Date Posted: 25/02/2011

I have to give a public response to the spin and lies from Wera Hobhouse.

Last night I rightly accused them of being lazy in opposition just as they were passive in governance of our public purse.

This councillor at 11.00 am this Thursday morning mislead a charity and voluntary and group, by sending then an email suggesting they had been saved when the budget was passed last night.

I did not believe when I accused them of being lazy, just how little time it would take for them to prove me right.

Either Councillor Wera Hobhouse did not read her budget papers in advance of last nights meeting, or she failed to understand them and refused to ask for any help in gaining an understanding.

Or she took no notice of anything which was said last night.

Wera in her quest as a Lib Dem did nothing to bring forward any suggestions to help this charity, neither she or her party members put for any motion or amendment to help.

Instead, they continued with childish games, seeking a scene in the theatre of the council chamber.

YOU DID NOTHING FOR THE BOROUGH WHILST YOU WERE IN CONTROL FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS and you are just as lazy in opposition.

So let's discuss your three pathetic motions:

• Delete trade union posts – you know that with 48% of council funding being withdrawn, there is a proposed cut at every level – which includes trade unions , management and elected members. So we have agreement on that. 
  When I responded to your motion, agreeing that the way public money is spent should be examined openly by our residents, you were outraged when I exposed , that over the last four years, you have spent £260,000 of council tax payers money on your political promotions. 
  You imposed a 20% levy on your Lib Dem councillors collecting £65,000 each year to employ at the local council tax payers expense; a political spin doctor: pay for leaflets and printing and in many cases delivery of those leaflets. 
  I did not get the opportunity last night to ask you if your party had paid all their bills from the last elections in MAY 2010. or have you any outstanding bills from those elections, and has your party aquired the name of the Bank of Dunlop, suggesting even after spending this large amount of council tax payers money on your political campaigning you can not manage your accounts yet alone the public accounts. 
  For the record, your election returns show you claim to have paid your debts.
• Cuts to Link4Life - I personally offered to work with your members on a resolution, to amend the budget, none of your Lib Dem group asked me to help, even after I spoke to them. 
  Your amendment failed to replace the funding you said you wanted to withdraw, this would have made the budget illegal. 
  There is a future for our arts and heritage, but work with us, and do not mislead people.
• Amendments to force all residents to pay the council tax on the same day of the month - you had not bothered to do the sums, it would have saved less than £10,000 but would have cost us many thousands more to change, and not everyone of our council tax payers are paid on the same day, and this would have lead to default on payment and an increase of council tax debt, which has already grown to over £4million during your time in charge.

I accused you of being lazy, I was probably being generous to you following your activity this Thursday.


Cllr Colin Lambert

Leader Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council