A green, community led and town centre focussed budget from the LibDems

At last night's meeting of Rochdale Council which set the budget for 2013/14, the main proposals in the Lib dems alternative budget were:

- zero Increase on the Council's component of the Council Tax formula.
- reduction in the number of cllrs from 60 to 40 (with a resultant further saving from one less election required).
- an unpaid leave plan for counil staff to save almost £1million.
- an emphasis on upping the ante on recycling with a 10% increase bringing a saving of £358,000.
- a new support budget of £500,000 to assist the borough's town centres and its traders.
- re-instating £310,000 back into the voluntary and community sector.

Leader of the Lib Dem group on Rochdale Council - Cllr Andy Kelly hailed this a, 'green, community led and town centre focused alternative budget.'

He added, 'there is a deliberate emphasis on recycling as the Council is losing this battle currently, bringing punishing land fill taxes as a result. We also need to get back to assisting our town centres and their traders while big projects may or may not arrive. And the all important voluntary sector requires further protection as they underpin everything which is good about the borough.'

'This budget shows that in tough times it is still about sticking to your priorities and creating a different vision going forward.'

ENDS