The Liberal Democrats have voted against Liverpool Labour's budget proposals for 2010 - which included plans to boost Liverpool's housing market, tackle the city's grot spots, and provide for new apprenticeships.
Liverpool Labour put forward a comprehensive package which included a £1million fund to help kick start housing regeneration in Liverpool, proposals to create 100 apprenticeships, to clean up an extra 1,000 grot spots, and to continue to fund Liverpool's voluntary and charity services at current levels.
But the Liberal Democrats voted against Labour's plans for new houses and new apprenticeships, and they also decided to slash £250,000 from the voluntary sector budget, despite impassioned pleas from the Chief Executive of the Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services against the cuts.
Paul Brant, Labour's finance spokesman, slammed the Liberal Democrats plans. "The Lib Dem budget has absolutely nothing to say about jobs, about housing, or about regeneration."
"They have also cut £250,000 from the voluntary sector services, which the Labour Party would not have done."
"Labour is committed to creating apprenticeships in Liverpool - that's why our proposals included plans for 100 new apprenticeships."
"We are committed to cleaning up this city's worst grot spots - that's why we pledged to clean up 1,000 extra grot spots as part of our plans."
"And we're committed to regenerating Liverpool's most deprived communities. We want to sort out the Boot Estate, and we want to kick start housing development with a £1million fund dedicated to doing so. We want to show the leadership this city desperately needs to solve its housing crisis once and for all."
"Unfortunately, the Liberal Democrats in Liverpool do not share these priorities. They voted against them at the Budget meeting. Their priorities are not the same as the priorities of the people of Liverpool."