Bedford Borough Councillor Roger Rigby has hit out at Mayor Dave Hodgson for claiming the credit for millions of pounds of Government funding to support Bedford Borough Council's services.
Ahead of the Council’s 2013/14 budget vote the Mayor used his Liberal Democrat website to claim that his administration is responsible for freezing Council Tax and keeping weekly bin collections, when in reality these decisions have been taken following significant funding from the Government.
Cllr Rigby, who is a Conservative representative for Bromham & Biddenham Ward said;
‘The Mayor continues to use his position to mis-inform residents by neglecting to acknowledge the assistance the Council has had to fund these schemes. The Government is to provide £3.14m to continue weekly bin collections and improve recycling up until 2016/17 and next year the Council will receive a £745k Council Tax Freeze Grant.
‘The Mayor claims to have fought to continue weekly bin collections but the reality is that all political groups on the Council have supported this service for years. Like Don Quixote, he has prevailed over an imaginary threat.
‘The Liberal Democrats have also made much of freezing car parking charges but they have brought in charges on a Sunday and extended the hours for paid on-street parking which clearly amounts to an overall increase. Residents deserve better from the Mayor.’