Tory and Green budget plans for Stratford District Council deemed unsound - but Reform UK's sums add up, according to council

Rival political groups get to put forward their own financial frameworks at budget-setting time alongside the substantive plan put forward by the Liberal Democrat group in charge at Elizabeth House.

The Lib Dems enjoy outright control through holding a majority of seats, making major deviation from their plans unlikely, but each plan is still assessed by a budget task and finish group – a dedicated cluster of councillors that works with the council’s employed finance professionals to judge the viability of each plan.

The verdict was that two out of the three alternatives were unsound.

The group’s report to cabinet concluded that: “In consultation with the (chief finance) officer, the group concluded that the proposals of the Reform UK group were clear, achievable and financially sound, but those of the Conservative and Green Party groups were not.”

The Tories want to give residents of the district free parking in Stratford with the lost revenue covered by either increasing charges for non-residents, use of council reserves or a mix of the two.

They also want to cut the cost of green waste collections to £40 per year, down from the £50 proposed by the Liberals as a small increase to the current rate of £48. At current rates the Conservatives expect this to cost just shy of £380,000, although they anticipate this would drop to around £200,000 through increased uptake due to the smaller price.

The Greens want to repurpose money in the Liberal spending list to add £1 million to boost existing plans to buy empty homes for temporary accommodation.

On top of that they want to top up funding to enable evening operation of the Indigo Bus service and pay for the staffing and logistics of a local food and energy project, “encouraging food growing… and subsidis(ing) the cost of food”, while also reviving a strategic study aimed at reinstating a rail link to Long Marston.

They would be paid for by cutting contributions to work on play areas, suggesting they could be match-funded by Stratford Town Council or through grants, while also discontinuing the Wellesbourne Airfield Strategy, arguing it is “better served for development”, and the council’s Western Relief Road Study.

Reform UK proposed to repurpose more than £4.3 million compared with the Liberal plans. A conservation appraisal, climate change funding, the Western Relief Road study and High Street pedestrianisation are among the things they would do away with.

Instead, they want to establish an £832,000 rural community fund that prioritises playgrounds, village halls and community assets, particularly in areas that struggle to attract community infrastructure levy (CIL) money.

A pot of £541,000 is proposed for a ‘preserve our pubs’ initiative, providing help with “costs, rents, rates or debts that will force a pub to shut its doors”.

“The funds could be used to help the community find other funding so that residents can run it as a community pub or prevent closure before a buyer has been found,” Reform's case continues.

“Funds can also be used to refurbish the building, modernise facilities or make the business more sustainable through diversification so it can survive in the long term.”

Another £541,000 is proposed for small business support plus a £1 million capital investment in Stratford Town Football Club to provide a 3G pitch and new community facilities to enhance youth football, walking football and disabled sports as well as creating extra capacity to sustain the club’s dementia cafe and academy provision.

Finally, Reform UK wants to create a £1.47 million legacy fund, allocating £35,000 to every councillor to spend on projects before the district authority is disbanded as part of local government reorganisation.

Each of the budget proposals will be debated at a meeting for all Stratford district councillors on Monday, February 23.