NEWS: Bury Councillor fails to placate local residents

Bury Counsellor Iain Garside faced a barrage of criticism as he tried to fend off questions from local residents at last nights open meeting to discuss the upcoming budget for the local authority. Flanked by the Council's Director of Finance, Mike Owen, Tory Cllr Garside was targeted for criticism, in particular, over the councils bid to try and avoid paying female staff compensation for suffering years of unfair pay.

According to Mr Owen, the council it facing a reduction of £12m in 2010-11 and £7m in 2011-12 as well as the loss of 184 jobs. He told the audience, of around 120 people, how the room for manoeuvre in spending was limited given the range of income available to the council and that he was required by law to set a legal budget.

However, as the meeting drew on, more and more people felt the need to attack the councils lack of political will in facing up to the cuts and in trying to ensure a better deal for residence. At one point, Cllr Garside refused to answer whether or not he would sign up to a letter of protest that was being constructed by Manchester City Council against the way the cuts to council budgets had been made. In contrast to the popular mood of the meeting, one person stood at the end to ask that those present give a vote of thanks the councillor and the director for the work that they had done, upon which he offered a lone hand clap.

A protest meeting has been arranged for next Monday, 7th February, to campaign against the cuts being made in Bury. The meeting will be held in the Bury Met at 6pm. If you would like information, you can contact us here