MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor Stuart Kelly
Date of Issue: February 25th 2010
Contact numbers:
07940 545003
Lib Dem office: 0151 691 8544

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS: A BUDGET TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES

Liberal Democrat Councillor Stuart Kelly, Cabinet Member for Community and Customer Engagement, has welcomed the half a million pound investment being made in communities in this years council budget.

The cash will develop community capacity, local democracy and engagement and builds upon recent proposals to improve the way Wirral Council carries out community engagement on major policies, which secured unanimous support from Full Council on 15 th February.

The Budget package presented at Cabinet on 22 nd February and due to be debated at Full Council on 1 st March builds on these commitments and extends them.

Stuart Kelly commented, “ Our communities will become more empowered to make decisions and take on additional responsibilities.”

“This is crucial, particularly as all major parties are warning of difficult times with the public sector facing spending cuts that could bite for years to come.”

“The measures we have set out in the Budget enable communities to speak for themselves and set their own priorities, helping to safeguard valued facilities and front line services and make sure that our communities are able to help set their own local priorities.”

“In order to do that, they must have and develop the capacity for long term success and this Budget aims to provide the support needed to do that.”

“The Budget package includes:

• Mainstreaming of the successful ‘You Decide' spending programme for Area Forums, where local communities choose to fund extra services in their area, with extra cash for local winter resilience ideas
• Provision for a financial adviser / community accountant to support the development of community groups
• Funding to support the development and capacity of the Wirral Multicultural Organisation.
• Additional grants for energy efficiency measures in community owned buildings .”