'Unequal' funding is creating a 'town of two halves' Warrington councillors say

“This budget... is unfair and unbalanced in its impact. We are becoming a town of two halves."

Councillors have slammed the budget’s ‘unfair impact’ on the south of the borough – with concerns raised that Warrington is becoming a ‘town of two halves’.

The Labour-run council’s budget was approved following a vote at the full council meeting on Monday, with 38 councillors voting in favour, 15 against, and one abstention.

Labour councillors voted in favour – with Liberal Democrats voting against it, along with independents and the one Conservative on the council. The Liberal Democrats are the opposition group on the council.

Liberal Democrat councillors Mark Browne, Graham Gowland, Sharon Harris, and Helen Speed strongly criticised the budget proposals for their ‘unfair impact’ on the southern part of the borough and called for ‘significant democratic reforms’ within the council.

Cllr Gowland, ward councillor in Lymm South, is the Liberal Democrat shadow for communities, culture, and leisure.

He expressed his dismay at the budget’s ‘unequal’ parking charges and the proposed removal of staff from libraries in the south, which he described as ‘partisan politics’.

Cllr Gowland emphasised the importance of ‘fair consultation’ and ‘balanced’ decision-making, noting that the current approach ‘undermines the needs’ of the entire borough.

“We represent the borough in its entirety south of the Ship Canal, and I would expect that where ward issues impact this area, we would be fully consulted,” he said.

“Imagine my surprise when I opened the cabinet papers to find a budget that set out to unfairly affect the south through unequal parking charges and proposed to remove staff from our libraries.”

Cllr Harris, ward councillor in Stockton Heath, echoed these concerns and highlighted the ‘lack of prior consultation on significant changes’ affecting south Warrington residents, including car parking charges, the closure of the Stockton Heath community recycling centre, and changes to library services.

She said: “In 2016, closures for libraries in Warrington were put forward by LiveWire and Labour. After a huge public outcry, many of us worked with residents, parish councils, and the borough council to save most of our libraries.

“These libraries have continued to provide important community and wellbeing services and are at the very heart of their communities.”

Cllr Speed, ward councillor in Grappenhall, expressed her disappointment at the ‘lack of collaborative working’ and the ‘short notice’ given to the opposition about the budget proposals.

She highlighted the ‘inequity and inequality’ in the budget, which she argued would create a ‘town of two halves’.

She said: “This budget, while aiming to offer a balanced budget, is unfair and unbalanced in its impact. We are becoming a town of two halves.

“It is also a very poor example of collaborative working, as we have been told that officers and portfolio holders have been working on these proposals for seven months, while we in opposition have only known about them for seven days.”

Cllr Speed also criticised the proposed changes to libraries, leisure and health centres, and the closure of the Stockton Heath community recycling centre.

She emphasised the need for ‘fair and equitable treatment’ of all residents and called for ‘alternative solutions’ to be explored.

She said: “We currently have 13 libraries – three of which are south of the Manchester Ship Canal.

“One is already run by volunteers. The other two, much loved and the busiest in the whole town, will, if the plans are enacted, become volunteer-led too.

“This means that, even with the plan to close one library in the north of the town, there will still be nine libraries with services delivered by trained librarians.

“How can this be seen as anything other than inequity and inequality?”

Councillors Gowland, Harris, and Speed all called for a review of the council’s governance, advocating for a move away from an executive system to a ‘more democratic’ committee system.

Cllr Gowland said: “I’ve long pushed for a shift from an executive to a more democratic committee system.

“The executive clings to control without consultation.

“I propose two key steps: save tens of thousands by cutting chair supplements for non-decision-making committees and establish a decision-making committee for communities, culture, and leisure.”

Cllr Harris added: “In the past week, our group has worked hard to offer constructive suggestions to a budget on which we had no effective prior consultation.

“I hope that, moving forward, both the council and officers will review the consultation process so that the opposition can work with them to ensure the best outcomes for our residents.”

Cllr Speed concluded by emphasising the need for alternative options and discussions with local parties and residents to find permanent solutions that are ‘not detrimental’ to wildlife and biodiversity.

Cllr Browne, leader of the Liberal Democrats, also voiced his concerns about the ‘lack of consultation’.

“We all have a collective responsibility to the residents of Warrington, irrespective of political allegiances,” said Cllr Browne, ward councillor in Grappenhall.

“We want to be positive, we want to move Warrington forward, we want to sing Warrington’s praises, we all genuinely want to make Warrington a better place.

“I can’t support a budget when it comes across as partisan.”