CHESTER’S first-ever Lord Mayor is leaving politics in protest, stating the Government has burdened tax payers with costs on a “political whim”.
Sue Proctor, who has served the people of Chester for 27 years, is stepping down after the Government decided to split Cheshire into two authorities – East and West.
She claims it made the move knowing the district councils backing the option had badly misjudged the savings and costs involved.
An independent financial assessment carried out on behalf of the Government shows the district councils’ submission has over-estimated savings by 50% and under-estimated the costs.
Cllr Proctor said: “It is disgraceful the Government is knowingly prepared to saddle Cheshire’s Council Tax Payers with this burden for the sake of a political whim.
“It is an entirely perverse decision and reflects little credit on party politics. Whatever happened to the best interests of our Council Tax Payers?”
Savings from the split were estimated at £30.1m by Macclesfield and Vale Royal councils, but the Government put the figure as £16m, and Whitehall’s estimate of costs was £25m, compared to the £16.6m put forward in the submission for two unitary authorities.
The move helped the Lib-Dem leader decide to end her career in local politics. She will officially step down in April, 2009.
“Health problems had already got me thinking along those lines, but this decision has convinced me not to stand for election to the new shadow authorities, simply because I do not think it can work,” she said.
“The figures published by Hazel Blears’s own department confirm the districts got their sums wrong. I fear the new councils in East and West Cheshire will find it extremely difficult to deliver a full range of affordable services.”
Cllr Proctor is urging the county and district councils to work together to produce a robust and fully costed plan to ensure adequate staffing and financial resources are in place to ensure a smooth transition. She is also calling for assurances from all Cheshire councils that employees will be given clear information of proposed staffing changes, and for all appointments to be subject to open selection processes.
A spokesperson from the Dep-artment for Communities and Local Government said: “Taking account of all financial estimates, an independent financial assess- ment has shown the propos- als put forward by Cheshire make ongoing annual savings that more than outweigh any transitional costs within five years.
“We have consistently made clear the proposals for flagship councils in East and West Cheshire are going ahead because they have shown against rigorous assessment they meet our tough financial and other tests.”
lizawilliams
