Trafford Council passed its budget on Monday, 5th March, with Trafford Conservatives voting against the proposals. The budget raises serious concerns, especially the 7.49% increase in Council Tax — a significant blow to residents already struggling with the ongoing cost of living crisis. Residents are being asked to pay more for less, facing rising costs without any noticeable improvement in services.
Councillor Evans, Leader of Trafford Conservatives, stated:
“The budget that has just been passed by Trafford Council fails to address the pressing financial challenges facing our borough. Trafford Council’s reserves are at historic lows, budget gaps are widening, and yet money continues to be wasted. For instance, £2 million has been spent on care homes that are either boarded up and unused or running at reduced capacity.”
The Trafford Labour administration has been in power for seven years. Greater Manchester has also had a Labour mayor since the position was created. With a Labour government and only Labour MP's, Labour has full control at every level — locally and nationally. Yet, instead of taking responsibility, Trafford Labour continues to shift the blame onto the Conservatives.
“Labour have been in control of Trafford Council since May 2018,” added Cllr Evans. “It is concerning that Labour councillors seem confused about who is actually in charge.”
Residents don’t have to look far to see the Council’s failures. Trafford’s roads are deteriorating, basic services are falling short, and financial mismanagement continues to threaten the Council’s stability. Despite these issues, Trafford Labour has shown no willingness to make the difficult decisions needed to fix the situation and avoid potential bankruptcy.
In response, Trafford Conservatives drafted a responsible alternative budget that addresses these financial challenges head-on. Unlike Labour’s plan, the Conservative proposals are focused on cutting waste, improving essential services, and ensuring better value for money for Trafford residents.
“We had put forward a clear and sensible plan for the budget but it never made the light of day. What they are currently seeing from Labour is record-breaking Council Tax increases and worsening services across the board,” said Cllr Evans.
The Trafford Conservatives remain committed to standing up for residents and holding Trafford Labour to account for their failures.