At Full Council on 12 October 2021, the Liberal Democrat administration stated that the Corporate and Resources Committee had committed on 30 September 2021 to allocate £40 million for a new leisure centre in the council's budget
The problem is that a commitment to allocate budget does not mean that the council has the money or the means to obtaining that money or that it is wise for such an allocation to be made or such spending to happen
The allocation is merely a wish, an intention, with no justification or evidence to justify why such a huge allocation is a priority in budget terms
Indeed, it is hard to see how £40 million in planned spending on a new leisure centre can be a priority for a Council when budget update figures presented to the same Corporate and Resources Committee show that the financial situation of the Council is extremely worrying
This is not a time when the council should be embarking on hugely risky and expensive growth plans. The council needs to mend The Kingfisher's roof and get their house in order
Here is what the report to Corporate and Resources Committee said:
- Of £7.42 million savings planned in 2021-22 only 54% are on track to be delivered in full with 46% predicted to be delayed or delivered only in part
The fund available to manage risks that materialise stands at £19.63 million. Meanwhile, the council has incurred the following current overspends of £18. 3 million so far this year:
- £5.86 million on the General Fund Capital programme
- £1.76 million in Adult Social Care
- £1.7 million in Children's Services, especially social care and early years' help
- £1.6 million property (£0.7 million Covid related)
- £3 million on capital spending for schools
- £2.8 million on Schools
- £0.7 million on Housing Revenue account
- Loss of income of £0.9 million on Enforcement Accounts (fines, parking tickets)
In addition, the council has deferred spending the following amounts for which it budgetted and which we must assume will need to be spent in the near future:
- £5 million on the Cambridge Road Estate
- £1.8 million on interest payments on debt to fund capital expenditure
In total, this amounts to £25.1 million more money than the Council budgetted to spend this financial year
But the situation is even more fragile because the above figures do not include the deficits that the council faces on its schools programme which are currently separated out from its general finances. The council has also allocated £1.2 million from the general fund reserves to block the financial hole it faces from these services
The deficit on the schools' budget is predicted to be over £11 million for the current year
But the deficit could end up as high as £15 million at year end if the council does not manage to implement its special needs "futures" plan to improve performance in this area, as it will then suffer a loss of safety valve income of £3.75 million. The council is already facing a £5 million overspend in this area
Why would Kingston Council want to demolish The Kingfisher in this situation?
Please keep sharing this petition and encouraging other people to sign it
Please also donate £5 if you can to the fundraiser to seek a legal opinion on the Council's decision to approve the demolition. We have raised nearly £2000 already which is an amazing achievement in so little time
As always, thank you for your continuing support.
Caroline