FACT: Across the country, councils are failing or on the financial brink. Eight have gone bust (‘a Section 114 notice’). Thirty are on life support from central government. Conservative Kent County Council is not among them
FACT: We deliver sound budgets, even under intense pressure, and our financial management is strong (it’s not us saying that, it’s our external auditors). We have saved approaching £1 billion over the last decade, cut debt costs from 13% of our budget to 8% and brought many areas of big spending pressure under control. We are making our services secure for the future
FACT: We stand up for Kent. We have made sure that Kent council tax payers are not on the hook for the costs of asylum. We took the government to the High Court – and won – so that unaccompanied minors are moved rapidly to other parts of the country
FACT: We are there when you need us. We have helped residents through tough financial times, including pensioners targeted by Labour’s withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payment. We provide some of the best and lowest-cost services to protect vulnerable children in the country
Money will stay tight, and we can’t expect help from a cash-strapped Labour government. Local government reorganisation, driven by Labour, means there’s a huge job in safely transferring our vital services – for some people, a matter of life and death - to new councils.
These challenges need serious, dedicated councillors who care about our communities, not those who offer only slogans and treat them as a vehicle for protest about national politics.
For a council that cares about Kent and our communities; that will keep Kent financially secure; and that will always stand up for Kent – vote Conservative on Thursday 1 May.
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