Lib Dems immediately expose Council problems

4.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 24th Jun 2008

Within the first two weeks of Liberal Democrats control of Derby City Council they have already uncovered around £5 million of un-budgeted council over-spending. Some of this is from the last financial year, 2007/8, but some is from this year - and all is inherited from the previous Labour/Tory administration.

Among the problem areas are:

• £2.7 million over-spending on adult care

• approximatley £1 million down on parking income

• £600,000 needed to complete Cathedral Green bridge

Other areas of serious concern include:

• over £120 million backlog in the maintenance and repair of council buildings

• the main highways maintenance contract is costing more and delivering less

than expected

• on-going problems with job evaluation

• progress towards the council's target to cut carbon emissions is very slow, ignores the carbon footprint of the construction within its own major building projects

• Cycling England is concerned about lack of progress and leadership on cycling in Derby and is threatening to withhold £500,000 of agreed funding New council leader, Councillor Hilary Jones, said "As well as these issues, our first Cabinet meeting also included a report from the council's director of resources listing many areas of concern where targets are being missed and projects

not delivered. Of particular note are adult care services, planning and transport.

"The adult care budget had overspent year on year since Labour abolished charges three years ago, despite cutting the numbers of people able to be helped. Derby Liberal Democrats have already agreed to consult users about re-introducing charges to prevent further cuts to care, with an option to extend services to some people with lower levels of need.

"The Liberal Democrat in Derby have also made building our new bus station a priority - against Tory advice - by agreeing more flexible terms with the Riverlights developer. The bus station should now be in operation by autumn 2009.

"We are working closely with officers to address these and other problems, as well as pressing forward with the Liberal Democrat priorities which were supported so strongly by the voters in May."

There are still several areas of council operations for which briefings of the new Cabinet are not yet completed, and many areas where more detailed briefings will be given over the next weeks and months.