Medway Labour & Co-op Group are very concerned at the £33 million budget gap currently projected for Medway Council in 2022.  

The upcoming Conservative Cabinet meeting will receive a report which highlights the budget gap which currently sits at more than £33 million pounds.

Cllr Vince Maple, Medway Labour & Co-op Group Leader said “Medway residents will rightfully be extremely concerned at the potential services under threat with such a large budget gap.  This council has failed to have adequate reserves to deal with such an issue.  The Conservative Cabinet have repeatedly put up Council Tax by the maximum possible amount, including additional tax raises for social care, and the fact we still have this gap shows they haven’t got a grip.  Of course, this funding situation is made substantially worse by the austerity cuts to councils like Medway over the past decade.”

Cllr Tris Osborne, Medway Labour & Co-op Audit Spokesperson added “This report is a flashing red warning light about the state of the Council finances which if not acted upon might lead to the Council declaring bankruptcy. There can be no doubt that Medway is in a clear and present danger which requires increased government support for child and adult social care and a review of revenue spending as a matter of urgency. Labour have been consistently warning that we need to take a cautious approach to treasury management where borrowing is kept in check”