Jan 6 2003

Council bosses were urged to examine the Green Party's proposals to reduce cuts in services before setting the March 2003 budget.

Spokesperson for The Green Party, Bob Ball said: 'We are shocked by suggestions that the care services in Leicester are facing significant cuts because of £5 million funding shortfall, in addition to £2 million cutbacks in other council departments. We are proposing a number of alternative budget savings which would repeal many of the threatened services'. The Green Party's alternative budget savings include proposals to:

• speed up re-letting and reduce the annual backlog of empty council houses (665 empty homes, 2002);
• review heating costs - on all council buildings to reduce costs, e.g., Town Hall heating was on during the day in June 2002;
• increase car-parking charges in city centre;
• sell one or both of the Lord Mayor's cars and use buses, or black cabs;
• spend less money on corporate advertising and glossy leaflets;
• replace Link magazine with an annual report.