While councils across the country go to the wall – Waverley Tories called for cuts in parking charges, staffing, and dumping Waverley Training Services. 

Presumably, in a bid to help pay off other councils’ debt following local government reorganisation.

But last night, the Rainbow Coalition was jubilant that it remains solvent and had produced a balanced budget for the next two years, with a 2.99% increase in Council Tax. At the same time, it increased help for vulnerable ratepayers, built more affordable homes, gave more cash to the voluntary sector, and will build a new leisure centre in Cranleigh.

Councillors of every colour were poleaxed at last night’s budget-setting council meeting when the Tory Group Leader used the hallowed halls of the council chamber as a stage to make a party political broadcast on behalf of the Conservative party.

As she name-dropped “my boss Jeremy Hunt,” Cllr Jane Austin lambasted the Labour Government’s actions over its seven-month term of office. She used much of her 15 minutes of fame to tell another good story about the achievements of the Conservative Government before introducing her group’s amendment.

While fully aware that government cuts had led to the bankruptcy of most other Surrey councils year after year, she applauded the government’s decision to move to a Unitary Authority for Surrey. She also said collaborating with Guildford (which the Tories have opposed from the outset) should result in even more savings than the administration’s budget showed.

She grandstanded while her colleagues listened incredulously to her call to reduce funding this year dramatically and next, which would effectively close down training services that had run for 40 years because, since the pandemic, it has been losing money. The WW watched the face of its Board chairman, Cllr Liz Townsend, turn puce as Austin proposed measures that would ultimately end its career of providing apprenticeships and support for thousands of young people and Waverley businesses over 40 years.

A fuming Cllr Townsend defended the organisation, saying:

Cut WTS!  An organisation that has provided training and apprenticeships for young people for decades, boosting the local economy and making a difference in their careers and families’ lives. Former Business & Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch and former chancellor  Jeremy Hunt called for more apprenticeships, which Cllr Austin would happily dismiss.

You would happily discard apprenticeships that had led to jobs with local employees, including the health service!

Through gritted teeth, Cllr Austin congratulated the Finance Team for producing a balanced budget, and her group voted for the council tax increase. An increase that would have been considerably more if she had succeeded in introducing a reduction in car parking charges, one of the council’s primary sources of revenue—£ 250,000 of which to be spent on improving payment methods with new technology, but keeping some cash machines.

To encourage people to stay longer in towns, WBC has increased charges for the first hour and reduced charges for the following three hours. WBC’s charges are the cheapest in Surrey.

Cllr Ken Reed reminded everyone that the increase was less than a latte!

Mayor John Ward warned councillors not to politicise the debate, saying, “Leave that to others in another place.”

Group leaders from Labour, Farnham Residents, Independents, and Greens all backed the recommendation to approve the Budget. They congratulated Finance Portfolio Holder Mark Merryweather, who some described “as Waverley’s Houdini” for efficiently managing the council’s finances during one of the most extended periods of government austerity. Increased voluntary organisation funding: No cuts in services, increased staffing,  particularly in planning, which is currently running at half strength at a time of extreme uncertainty on the cusp of Devolution, taking up an enormous amount of officer and councillor’s time!

Councillors called the Tory amendment.

“reckless and profoundly irresponsible.”  and voted it down by 30 votes to seven – four abstentions.

Others referred to the enormous debts of Woking, Spelthorne, Surrey County Council, Surrey Heath, and Runnymeade.

Leader Paul Follows asked what was common among these failing councils. They are all Tory-led!

The Recommendation for a 2.99% increase in Waverley’s Band D Council Tax Charge for 2025/26 with resultant increases to the other council tax bands was approved UNANIMOUSLY. Among the lowest in the country.