Hampshire Conservatives' £175 million budget gap demands "fundamental change"
Tory leadership failure puts council at risk: Hampshire County Council has announced that its previous budget gap has widened from £132m to a staggering £175m.
In response, Hampshire’s Conservative leadership plan to announce a vicious set of cuts to services ranging from public transport to lollipop patrols, libraries, and road maintenance.
The previous Conservative government left local councils at breaking point, but due to a lack of leadership and future planning, Hampshire County Council is in serious trouble.
A fundamental change in leadership is needed
Liberal Democrat councillor Elaine Woodard
Commenting on the County Council’s statement, Cllr Elaine Woodard, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on East Hampshire District Council, said:
“Hampshire County Council’s finances have been in free fall for several years, but to be told that Hampshire’s budget gap has risen from £132 million to £175 million in just three months suggests a fundamental change in leadership is needed.
“Local government was badly underfunded by the Conservatives so the new Government will have to pick up the pieces, but in the meantime, under their third Tory leader in three years at Hampshire, councillors have been told to sort out the mess.
“The Liberal Democrats will work hard on solutions, but real change and real new leadership is needed at the elections next May to take our County forward.”
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