Doncaster mayor hits out at Tories over ‘mistaken or misleading’ funding claims

In a letter, the mayor said the ‘extra’ £11.4 million would only be achieved through the local authority raising council tax by five per cent and the real figure was in the region of £3 million.

Mayor Jones also criticised the opposition Tory group on DMCB and said they consistently voted against her budget and all council tax rises and not forward ideas on how to save money.

But Doncaster Conservatives hit back and said the mayor was playing ‘silly games’ with the town’s budget and ‘insists on spending on pointless vanity projects rather than cleaning up litter’.

Mayor Jones said: “The local Conservative Group recently announced that Doncaster Council were to receive over £11.4 million in additional budget funding for the next financial year (2021/22).

“People will be interested to know Doncaster Council has received less than £3million extra despite the enormous pressures on the council due to the coronavirus crisis.

“To get £11.4million, Doncaster Council would have to increase your council tax by five per cent, over £70 a year extra for a Band D home.

“Now, I promise you, the people of Doncaster, that I will not put forward such a tax rise, whatever the encouragement from Government or support from Conservative councillors.

The local Conservative group has consistently voted against my budget and all council tax rises yet at no point have they engaged with the budget setting process, put forward ideas on how to save money, increase income or deliver services differently.

“Do they want us to increase your council tax by five per cent? Or, when they put out this £11.4million figure, were they simply mistaken or were they trying to mislead the people of Doncaster?”

Nick Allen, Conservative councillor on DMBC, said: “The mayor continues to play silly games with the town’s budget and the hard earned money of Doncaster’s taxpayers.

“Over the last year the Conservative government has significantly increased funding for Doncaster. We have had more financial support for our town than ever before.

“Sadly, the mayor has decided to overlook this and concentrates on silly jibes. Instead she should be telling residents how government money has boosted the town, in our hour of need.

“If the mayor is so concerned about getting value for money then why does she insist on spending on pointless vanity projects rather than cleaning up litter?”

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