Basildon's Tory Council - beyond incompetence.

10.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 16th Jul 2008

"A catalogue of mismanagement" is how LibDem group leader Geoff Williams has described Basildon's Conservative council's performance. "Their recent record betrays an incompetence that almost beggars belief".

-It is incomprehensible that local Tory leaders did not understand that the £140+ million funding for the newly established ALMO (set up to manage Basildon's council housing) was a loan rather than a grant. Particularly since the guidance for establishing the company emphasises the financial aspects in terms of "supported borrowing".

-The audit commission's recent report on Access to Services gave no comfort to the Tory administration. In his speech to Annual Council on the 19th May 2005, the Leader stated that his administration was " determined to consult and engage with local people more and more in the decision making process". Now, 3 years on, the Audit Commission has found that "The Council does not yet have effective communication, consultation, complaints and engagement strategies in place".

-The administration has totally miscalculated on the issues surrounding the redevelopment of Basildon Golf course and the strength of feeling that the proposals which they were so keen to support would engender.

-They have mismanaged the traveller situation so that neither the settled community nor the travellers can claim any satisfaction from the present situation

-They are pressing ahead with projects that will deprive the local community of much valued assets like Markhams Chase centre.

And there's more...

"I would urge the people of Basildon to examine the record and make their own judgements.They are being let down in great measure," said Geoff Williams.