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What does a councillor actually do?  They’re all the same aren’t they?  This goes some way to answering those questions.

One of the most important jobs a councillor does is to set the budget for Stockport Council, which has just been done for 2019-2020.  The current Labour administration, as well as increasing the Council Tax for the third year running (by 2.75% this year), proposed cutting the devolved allowance available to Marple councillors to spend on items like highways and community projects by a whopping 60% and instead control it centrally from the Town Hall.  This would have had a severe impact on ward funding. 

Lib Dems proposed an amendment to keep this spending controlled locally.  Unusually after 2 lengthy meetings spread over 5 days, all councillors ultimately agreed on the amendment.  All three Marple Lib Dem councillors spoke out against the original proposal; this is one of our core beliefs – local money controlled locally. 

This contrasts with a Lib Dem proposal to save £11,000 by scrapping free councillors’ meals before every full council meeting; Labour wanted it kept. 

Councillor Steve Gribbon said “We are delighted that common sense prevailed and the funding is to be reinstated.  The Marple North and South wards have the largest amount of community and volunteer groups in Stockport Borough.  It was vital we protected our area and stop Labour’s efforts to reduce our local budget”. 

Cllr Steve Gribbon
Aron Thornley

Details of Council Tax changes

https://www.stockport.gov.uk/news/stockport-council-tax-to-increase-by-2-75-in-2019-20-find-out-why

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