Mole Valley District Council is predicting an overrun of nearly £1million this financial year. This is just under 10% of the entire budget Mole Valley spend in an entire year. Conservative councillors have long warned that such an overrun could be likely, as the budget for 2024/25 in Mole Valley was based on accounting tricks and unrealistic assumptions.
Chief among those was the idea that the Liberal Democrat administration could sell a property asset and cash the proceeds in the first quarter of the financial year. Failing to do this has meant that the council is likely to spend more than anticipated on interest payments. This is money that could have been spent on improving the condition of playgrounds, social housing or supporting businesses across Mole Valley. Instead, the Liberal Democrat councillors running Mole Valley have created a situation where they need to choose between a fire sale, a reduction in services, or financial insecurity.
The current overrun assumes the property will be sold by April 2025, which in an unpredictable market could prove to be another misstep by the Liberal Democrats. We believe that this overrun could cause damage to our district and our residents, and put services residents rely on at risk. We are calling on the Liberal Democrat administration to be responsible with finances, and stop funding vanity projects such as the installation of solar panels on Leatherhead Leisure Centre and the refurbishment of Dorking Halls.
Cllr Joanna Slater, Leader of Mole Valley Conservatives says, "We all know financial stability is not to be taken for granted. The Liberal Democrats need to start building serious budgets that protect the council and taxpayers' money, and give up on vanity projects that are too expensive and wasteful. Furthermore, the council needs to 'tool-up' the audit committee so that financial performance can be properly reviewed - no more marking their own homework".
Marisa Heath, Conservative Parliamentary Spokesperson for Dorking & Horley says, "The Liberal Democrats' decisions around their budgets doesn’t always seem to be in the interests of residents and there is a real lack of scrutiny and debate which is vital to fiscal responsibility. That is why we need more Conservatives elected to challenge them."
