When it unveiled the deepest cuts for a generation last week, Darlington Borough Council’s controlling Labour group blamed the Tory government for the financial meltdown. But Heather Scott, leader of the council’s Conservative opposition, says years of unfettered spending, indolence and a top-heavy bureaucracy are responsible for a crisis that could have been avoided

THE outcry over budget cuts in Darlington needs to be put into perspective and considered against the structural changes that are needed to deliver lasting stability for public services in the town.

The knee-jerk reaction of commentators and Labour politicians to simply blame the Government is irrational and not at all constructive. It detracts from the real strategic problems.

There are three reasons the council faces a budget crunch next year: First, the national debt left by the Labour government is leading to public sector cuts across the board, cuts that everybody knew were coming and, in that knowledge, elected a Conservative government.

Second, years of structural deficit built up locally by a Labour council that has lacked rigorous financial financial oversight. Perhaps in the hope that a Labour government would dig them out of the hole they created. Our local debt now stands at more than £151 million and costs a staggering £4.1m per year to service in interest payments alone.

Third, poor governance of the council itself, with increasing management structures that are costly and prevent innovation.

The debt is Labour’s legacy; high profile cuts are a result of Labour’s impotence to do anything about it.

It is appalling that opposition councillors were informed of the financial plans after The Northern Echo was given an executive briefing. Council officers are answerable to elected members not the local newspaper. Furthermore, by including councillors from all parties – all of whom want to see Darlington Council survive – could have garnered fresh ideas and insight. Instead they have acted in a secretive way which obeys the first rule of a bureaucracy – to defend itself in absolute terms.

So let us consider what could be done.

The figure of £46m is deliberately being used, leading people to believe that this is the amount that needs to be cut. This is actually a figure over 10 years against a gross budget of £282m per annum.

In the year to April 2016 the council operated on a budget of £87m and next year will be £91m there are no expenditure cuts here but 186 posts are to go.

The council is run by a group of officers *53 of whom earn more than £74,000 and the chief executive is one of the highest paid in the North.

* The correct figure is 10 receiving £74,000 and 29 receiving £50,000 - click here to read Councillor Scott's apology for the error

A number of local councillors receive a top up of the basic allowance of £8,000 to become cabinet members and chairman and vice chairman of committees.

As a starting point Conservatives would cut these extra allowances followed by a restructure of officers and cabinet and scrutiny committees.

We are afraid the the crisis point we have reached is partly as a result of allowing bureaucracy in the council to become too heavy. We have some excellent officers but it is time the structure is reviewed at all levels to reflect the town’s needs. We should be looking at sharing more senior positions with other councils. We already have good arrangements with Stockton and we can build on that without losing our identity.

The Conservative group has suggested this for a long time and had it been pursued more vigorously we could have saved nearly a £1m.

Darlington indoor market, and its future, is of major concern and it is time that the truth is told as to why it has reached a crisis point. The Labour-controlled council is guilty of disgraceful neglect.

The last time any substantial investment was put into this historic building was in the late 1970s when it was refurbished by a Conservative council.

Since then it has not been a priority for Labour. To blame the government for its difficulties is not only dishonest but a dereliction of duty. Investment is imperative and help should be given to encourage business interests to secure the future of Darlington as a market town. Proposals have been put forward in the past but for whatever reason, perhaps lack of imagination or political ideology, they were not acted on.

Some of those businesses have been operating market stalls for generations and every avenue needs to be explored to bring the facility into the 21st century and to make better use of the iconic building.

Finally, next year's spending will increase by five per cent just as spending has increased every year through these difficult times. Cuts were made, but the savings were used to support increased budgets elsewhere.

All too often high-profile targets for cuts have been advocated at the expense of structural reform and modernisation resulting in an ever increasing deficit.

It is time the Labour Party accepted responsibility for its part in the current situation and worked with all parties to find a solution in the interests of the people of Darlington.

The Conservative Group would not object to intervention by George Osborne to review our fiscal situation.