Council moves to plug ‘massive hole’ in finances

But Opposition councillors want money spent on families in need instead

Torbay councillors have been urged not to let the bay’s most needy families ‘go to hell in a handcart’ by keeping money in reserves rather than spending it on helping them.

“Don’t turn your backs on those in housing need,” urged Cllr Steve Darling (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) as the full council debated its finances at a meeting this week.

But the bay’s Conservative administration insists that £400,000 left as a surplus from last year’s budget should go into capital reserves to help offset what they say is a “massive hole” in the capital programme.

Leader David Thomas (Con, Preston) said: “We are committed to having a strong grip on our finances, and the capital hole is absolutely massive.”

Opposition Liberal Democrats and Independents tried to persuade the administration to use the money to help families in need. Cllr Darling urged them: “The cost of living crisis is massively impacting many local residents. We want to address this immediately, rather than putting this money away for a rainy day.

“For many people in our community, it is already raining cats and dogs.”

Cllr Darling said the money could support people in their homes and help prevent them becoming homeless which increases pressure on council finances.

“We need to support our communities now, rather than leaving it to the future,” he added.

“Either we put the money in now, or we are going to have to find it somewhere else in the budget, or officers will be instructed by the cabinet to turn the taps off and let people go to hell in a handcart.”

And Cllr Nigel Penny (Lib Dem, Roundham with Hyde) said: “We are stashing away £400,000 into our pockets. People will say the council doesn’t understand them, and is lining its own pockets with this money.

“It’s a welcome windfall, but why should we keep all the luck? Why not share it with those in need? We can help people in genuine need now if we so choose.”

Cllr Darren Cowell (Independent, Shiphay) said the council must make sure it was supporting local families in need. “I don’t hear any words about social responsibility from this administration,” he said. “It’s all about pound signs.”

But Cllr Thomas insisted the council was still committed to supporting people in poverty and housing need, and added: “This money is not being squirrelled away into somebody’s deep pockets.”

And Cllr Alan Tyerman (Con, Churston with Galmpton) pointed out: “The financial position we have inherited is quite worrying.

“I am not unsympathetic to the argument that our residents need that help, but I still believe that this is the prudent way of acting at this particular time.”

The majority Conservative side of the council chamber voted down the Lib Dem and Independent amendment and agreed to put the £400,000 into council reserves.