Reading Green Party is calling on Labour-run Reading Council to end its spending on free party food and alcohol at the annual Council AGM, arguing it is unjustifiable during a non-essential spending freeze and service cuts.
Currently, Reading Council is under a non-essential spending and recruitment freeze. This means halting spending on non-critical council services and severely restricting recruitment.
At the Council AGM 159 people attended mainly consisting of councillors and their guests. £4,866 was spent on free food and alcohol.
Councillor Rob White, leader of the Green Party group—the main opposition on Reading Council—said:
“At a time when the Labour-run council is under a non-essential spending freeze and vital services are being cut, it’s completely wrong for Labour to be spending public money on free food and alcohol at the Council AGM.
“Reading Council faces a projected £9.6 million overspend. Labour’s budget has already cut funding for tackling inequality, rough sleeping and children’s services. Council tax has gone up by 4.9% again. Meanwhile one in four children in Reading live in poverty.
“Councillors and guests should pay for themselves. The nearly £5000 of taxpayer money which is currently paying for free booze and party food would be far better spent supporting the local food bank.
“Green Party councillors attended the AGM and gave thanks to both the outgoing and incoming mayors. However we didn’t take part in the free alcohol and food and we donated to the local food bank.
“At the recent local elections around the country, Labour lost two-thirds of the seats it was defending whilst the Green Party gained seats for the 8th year running. Nationally, Labour is becoming more unpopular because of cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners, Labour support for the two-child benefit cap, and plans to slash disability benefits —policies that are pushing people further into poverty.
“Labour needs to work in the interests of residents, or it risks losing more councillors in Reading next year.”
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The more people who get involved, the more of a difference we can make on issues like this. If you have time to help deliver leaflets or knock on doors, then get in contact (https://reading.greenparty.org.uk/get-involved/). Or why not join the Green Party (https://join.greenparty.org.uk/)?