Staffordshire County Council’s acting leader has hit back at claims there has not been enough scrutiny of Reform UK’s first budget at the authority.
Councillor Martin Murray says criticisms from the Conservative opposition have been ‘politically motivated’, and that elected members have had adequate opportunity to quiz leaders on the medium term financial strategy (MTFS).
The draft budget for 2026/27 includes a 3.99 per cent council tax raise – below the maximum allowed – and £21.5 million of savings. The budget was discussed by members of the corporate overview and scrutiny committee earlier this month.
Committee member Philip White, who leads the opposition Conservative group, complained that no cabinet members were present to answer questions on the budget. But Cllr Murray rejected this criticism, saying scrutiny committee members and the MTFS working group have had ample opportunity to discuss the budget with cabinet members and senior officers over the last few months.
Cllr Murray said:
“For Councillor White to even suggest scrutiny has not been done is not only an insult to the Reform UK administration but also to Staffordshire County Council as a whole. Clearly a very politically motived opinion of his.
“Right from the start, we not only did a deep dive to learn and assess previous MTFSs, we also set up a working group and scrutinised major departments to make sure if savings could be made and most importantly where extra funding was needed.
“It would be nice for the people of Staffordshire to actual read the good things our MTFS will do for this county, not only do we have one of the lowest increases in the country, but we have also not cut any services, and most importantly we have invested more money where it matters most: our underfunded failing highways and children’s services.”
The budget includes plans to invest an additional £5.5 million in children’s services, which will fund 119 new staff. The council is also planning on borrowing an extra £15 million to spend on repairing potholes.
Cllr Murray also pointed out that he was in attendance at the start of the meeting of the corporate overview and scrutiny committee, but he was not required to stay for the discussion on the MTFS. Councillor Chris Large, cabinet member for finance and resources, had been mostly absent from meetings that week on compassionate grounds.
Cllr Murray added that the budget would be going to ‘informal scrutiny’ on Tuesday, with Cllr Large taking questions from members. Informal committee meetings are typically not held in public.
The budget is due to be approved at a full council meeting in February 12.
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