MANCHESTER LIB DEMS WILL FUND EXTRA POLICE ON THE BEAT FROM CITY BUDGET

Speech by Cllr Marc Ramsbottom on Fri 2nd Mar 2007

Opposition Liberal Democrats at Manchester Town Hall, today proposed a cash boost of nearly £ 1.7m to fund an extra 40 police officers on the beat to tackle crime on Manchester streets. The call comes after an alarming increase in gun crime in parts of Manchester.

Opposition Finance Chief Cllr Marc Ramsbottom said, "Fighting crime has got be our number one priority in Manchester. This Council talks tough, but has failed to deliver when it comes to making our streets safer. Many residents tell us that what the police need is not more laws and ASBO's, but more police on the streets to catch thugs and yobs. We will therefore, in agreement with the Chief Constable, fund the extra police officers that he needs to reduce crime and make our communities safer."

Lib Dems would fund the extra police by reducing the subsidy to URBIS museum and spending some of the cash dividend the Council receives from Manchester Airport. Lib Dems also say they would cut back Councillors allowances and get rid of perks such as the chauffeur driven limousine that is used to ferry the Leader around the city to meetings.

Cllr Ramsbottom also slammed the unfair and unjust Council Tax. "We believe that the Council Tax is an unfair tax that disproportionately affects people on low incomes, and should be scrapped. Nationally, the poorest 10% pay over 4 times more of their income in council tax than the richest 10%. Therefore We will be proposing a zero increase in Council Tax bills for the coming financial year, " he said.

Leader of the Opposition on Manchester City Council Cllr Simon Ashley said, "The Lib Dems would put more police on the beat, spend more cleaning up the city and tackling truancy, and increase local spending up to £140,000 per ward. We would freeze the unfair Council tax, and cut spending on Labour's pet projects like Urbis and chauffeur driven cars. It is a measured package that would help tackle some of the key challenges that Manchester has"