Opposition slams Tory plan to cut services

12:33pm Tuesday 6th November 2001

THE Conservatives have been blasted by opposition parties after for a string of expected service cuts.

Anerley Library is likely to close and the town hall will be sold to the private sector under Tory recommendations.

The suggested cuts were detailed in last week's leisure and community services committee meeting with a firm decision expected in February.

The Tories have come under renewed pressure to make £1.4m of cuts to reduce council tax increases next year.

Among its recommended cuts are £490,000 in parks maintenance budgets; £260,000 in libraries; £210,000 from the sale of Anerley Town Hall and a review of leisure centres management; £95,000 reduction in grants distributed to Chislehurst and St Paul's Cray Commoners, Norman Park running track and Bromley Arts Council; £90,000 saving in marketing; £95,000 from sports development activities and £200,000 in job cuts.

Anerley ward councillor Chris Gaster said: “People will be outraged by these cuts. When the Tories were in opposition they said there was no need for council tax to increase above inflation, and no need to cut front-line services.

“They are now facing the reality their undertakings are unsustainable. They have been totally and utterly dishonest.”

Liberal Democrat chief Councillor Chris Maines said: “They are so obsessed with getting the council tax down we are going to see huge gaping holes in services.

“It is sheer hypocrisy on their part. A council exists to provide good community services for its residents and it appears the Tories have failed to grasp this fact.

Labour leader Councillor Peter Fookes said the recommendations were “disturbing”.

He said: “I am very annoyed by this as we have fought hard to build up these services and this will be a bitter blow.

But council leader Councillor Michael Tickner defended the recommendations.

“We are looking at areas which will have minimum impact on front-line services. We have always said we would have to reduce spending if we are to solve the borough's cash crisis.

“The opposition is trying to whip up concern about isolated items within the plan, it's scaremongering.”

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