Last year we set about putting the Vale’s finances in order. This year we have built on this success and continue to deliver high quality public services in the areas that people care about, whilst keeping taxes low. We are delivering real value for money. For just £116.69 per year for the average household, we are managing the council’s finances prudently to improve public services at a time of decreasing government grant. Building our local economy remains central to what we do, and therefore we have established a significant fund to allow appropriate investment in infrastructure and services for the future. The announcement this week of Oxfordshire’s success in the City Deal programme brings us a step closer to the reality of genuinely devolved decision making on local infrastructure. We continue to lobby government to simplify the business rates retention scheme to ensure a real financial incentive to grow the local economy. We are working increasingly closely with local businesses to ensure the economy of the Vale continues to thrive. From the shopkeeper to the scientist – the Vale is an excellent place to do business and we will ensure that the infrastructure is in place to help it stay that way. Access to sports and leisure facilities will improve as a result of tonight’s budget. For example the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre will see an extension to the always packed car park, allowing more people from across the district to enjoy the excellent facilities we offer there. This runs alongside improvements that will be made as a result of the Council’s new leisure contract which will look at every leisure facility in the district. In Wantage, the Civic Hall, neglected and run down for so many years, is set for major improvements. By harnessing funds from developers and through prudent financial management, we are able to invest over £350,000 over the next five years in Wantage Civic Hall and other leisure facilities in the town for the benefit of the wider district. We have focussed on the things that are important to the public we serve, not spent public money on pet political projects. We have listened to the public’s concerns about the state of public toilets in the district. Over the last few weeks I have heard more jokes about toilets than I have about horse burgers, but to laugh at the subject is to miss the point. The public conveniences that we provide as a council are important to our residents and visitors to our towns and villages. Over the years they have been allowed to crumble and decay. It is time for more than just a coat of paint, but a hard look at how best to deliver this important service. We will begin by removing the expensive and unpopular automatic toilets, at Hales Meadow and in Grove. We will refurbish the most complained about public toilets in Faringdon and Abingdon. We will set out a strategy to improve facilities across the district, and where possible to harness private investment to limit the cost to the taxpayer. These facilities will improve and will remain free to use. We are supporting parish councils who are closest to our local communities. We are planning grants to help them cope with the changes in tax base which has been so disruptive to many. We are creating a grant scheme to direct local resources to areas that have taken the most housing. We are continuing our popular capital grants scheme which offers £100,000 a year to community groups and parish councils to support our communities. This is as well as providing some financial support for parishes that wish to carry out neighbourhood plans. We will continue to roll out free wi-fi after a successful trial in Wantage and have used extra funding from government to help improve the shopping experience in our market towns. This budget offers a consistently good services, investment where it really makes a difference and stability for the future, all at no extra cost to the tax-payer. I commend this budget to the Council. Responding to the debate As ever the Opposition have failed to come up with a coherent alternative to the Cabinet’s budget proposals. We have already seen this evening that they struggle to grasp the facts on everything from recycling to finance. It is no surprise that the first job of last year’s budget was to start digging us out of the mess they had created. We do not intend to go back. As we have seen in the past, they propose further expenditure – a headline grabbing project here, a photoshoot there – but there is no substance, no real idea of how to pay the bills - just raid the piggy bank. Their proposals, such as they are, would result in cuts and tax rises. They have been vocal in their opposition to the extremely popular and successful 2hr free parking. One can only presume that this would be the first thing for the chop if they were back in control. What they are lacking is credibility. After years in control with declining finances they are unable to adequately explain how they would pay for their plans for the future. There is a better way, the way that I have already outlined this evening. A vote in support of the cabinet’s budget proposals tonight is a vote for high quality, value for money services; low taxes – not just when there’s an election on and stability for the future. The future is bright – but it’s certainly not orange!