Attempts to extend the period of public consultation for Derby’s 2017-18 budget were defeated at a city council meeting on Tuesday night.Tory councillor Chris Poulter also repeatedly pointed out the lack of detail in Labour-run Derby City Council’s budget document during a corporate scrutiny and governance board meeting at the Council House.Consultation on the budget began on December 12 and ends on January 9, which Mr Poulter said was “too short” a time for people to respond, especially as “Christmas falls in between the dates”.
He said: “At the risk of sounding like a cracked record, I do not believe there is enough detail in this document to make it valid and for the public to be able to comment on it fully.
“Additionally, they are not being given enough time to study it and make their observations.”
Liberal Democrat councillor Lucy Care also said it was a “thin document”.
But Paul Robinson, city council chief executive, said the content of the document was sufficient and there was no statutory consultation time frame for the council budget.
Council director of finance Martyn Marples added: “I do not believe the world switches off at Christmas and people will get extra time to view the document if they wish.”
Mr Poulter’s recommendation that the document was expanded and the consultation period extended was defeated in a show of hands.
But Labour councillor Jack Stanton, who chaired the meeting, recommended that the city council cabinet should look at any feedback from the public on the current consultation and maybe examine whether the document could be changed in the future. He added: “But I don’t believe this one is vague or insufficient.”
The meeting was held to give councillors a chance to question the council’s budget proposals, which were announced last week.
These include: a proposal to raise council tax in Derby by 4% – 2% of which will be used to fund the rising cost of adult social care; cutting 65 jobs next year to save 3% of its wage bill; and borrowing £20 million to build a new 50-metre swimming pool.
More than £28 million is set to be cut over the next three years – with Derby City Council needing to save £15 million in the first year as of next April.
