Council leader puts the record straight over management of buildings

Councillor Heather Kidd, the Lib Dem leader of Shropshire Council, has put the record straight following confusion caused by Reform councillors about buildings in Ludlow and Shifnal.

Councillor Kidd said: “Reform councillors have completely misunderstood the situation. They need to check the facts before confusing residents with misinformation.”

“Given the tight financial squeeze, we simply cannot justify keeping unsustainable services. We cannot afford, for example, to ask taxpayers to pay £151,000 for a service that only a very small number of residents use, such as at Helena Lane in Ludlow.”

“The claim that Shropshire Council is cutting services in order to sell buildings is also factually incorrect – Shropshire Council doesn’t even own the Helena Lane site – they lease it (it was built under a PFI contract). Shropshire Council continues to provide the building as a facility for the community. Even if the council wanted to, it couldn’t sell the building. Reform are just playing politics.”

“As regards St. Andrews building in Shifnal, it’s a great pity the local Reform councillor hadn't spoken to Shifnal Town Council. Shropshire Council has been in long-term discussions with the Town Council about them taking over the building. However, the previous long-term leaseholder had left the building in a very poor state of repair and so the Town Council decided it would not be financially viable to take on.”

“Reform expects the council to cut expenditure on the one hand, and on the other hand opposes the savings the council has to make to keep the Commissioners out and balance the books.”

“They want to have their cake and eat it.”

Image: Freepik/Magnific