Speech given by our colleague Cllr Mark Smith on behalf of the three of us at that meeting:
“This is one of the most important debates in the municipal year, so I appreciate the opportunity to speak on behalf of my Chislehurst ward colleagues and myself.
“What makes this debate all the more important is that it’s the last Budget before the next election in May, and the critical state of the council’s finances means that decisions we take tonight will be particularly impactful for residents in the borough.
“We’ve heard the two main party leaders going through their annual ritual of blame apportionment. Conservatives blaming Labour, Labour blaming Conservatives.
“In reality, though, both of them are probably correct. Because this Budget is perhaps the inevitable outcome of at least two decades of political failure from all the major parties.
“And it’s not just Bromley who are struggling as a result of that failure.
“Nearly all local authorities, of all political colours, are facing up to having to make severe cuts in council services that people depend on.
“Indeed, it’s a measure of the problems facing local government now that even Bromley, with its careful financial management, is being forced to produce a Budget like this with 26 million pounds taken from reserves to balance the Budget, and a projected deficit of 100 million over the next two years.
“The ?100 million figure is incredibly sobering, and it means that, regardless of the result, whoever is in this chamber after the May elections will face some very difficult choices.
“We’re happy to support this Budget because it makes the best of a very bad situation.
“From a Chislehurst perspective, we’re aware that many people in the ward appreciate the council’s efforts to keep council tax as low as possible.
“However, we’re equally aware that many people in Chislehurst will be greatly affected by the potentially severe cuts in council services that we could see in the coming years – especially those people who are dependent on those services.”
From our perspective, the upcoming financial challenges make it all the more important to have active local councillors speaking up for Chislehurst residents and the wider community.
That’s why we’ll be standing for re-election on 7 May 2026.
Cllr Mike Jack
Cllr Mark Smith
Cllr Alison Stammers
