A Freedom of Information request submitted by the BBC has revealed that Labour-run Lambeth Council has failed to collect a mammoth £9 million in Council Tax just in the 2009/10 financial year.
At a time when Labour has approved savage cuts to services in Lambeth, it is galling for the borough's taxpayers that such poor collection rates exist, with Lambeth being the worst out of the 32 London Boroughs. Such cuts to services could have been lessened if Lambeth was able to effectively collect the taxes that it levies.
In addition, the news came as Lib Dems announced their proposed alternative budget, which would have saved many front-line services, by identifying savings and efficiencies elsewhere in the budget. For example, selling Phoenix House, a Lambeth Council office in Vauxhall, could raise millions of pounds - the block was worth a staggering £24.5m when it was bought in 2004. We also proposed savings to reduce costs, such as a reduction on spending on publicity and advertising by £900,000 and a move to Open Source software, saving £500,000 - with both of these sensible proposals rejected by Labour.
With our financially sound proposals, which were approved by Lambeth Council's finance officers, Labour Councillors had a real alternative to protect some of Lambeth's most vulnerable when they voted through massive cuts to the Council's services last week - making the decisions taken by Labour last week all the more infuriating for residents.
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