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The Champion • Wednesday 9 January 2013Council reservesare ‘spoken for’...but MP calls for local authority to bemore transparent about its financesby Natasha YoungSEFTON Council has deniedit is sitting on millions ofpounds of cash reserves whileit continues to make cuts.MP, John Pugh, called forthe authority to be moretransparent about itsfinances and publish a full‘Revenue Budget’ book,which he says was lastprinted in 2004–05, claimingthere is “considerable spin”coming from both the counciland the government over thebudget.He told the Champion that,following the announcementthat Sefton’s grants would bereduced by a further 2.2%,which the council estimatewill add £7m to its deficit, thesituation was a “loadeddialogue of the deaf with thecouncil talking about ‘thebudget gap’ and thegovernment talking aboutcouncil ‘spending power’.”He added: “It is not obviouswhy a small reduction in‘spending power’ leads tosuch a ‘massive budget gap’.“I have no doubt that thecouncil is facing reductionsand a tough budget roundbut it does not help thatSefton has not since 2005published a full revenueJohn Pugh with the lastRevenue Budget bookbudget. They were a model offinancial transparency andnow are just as selective ascentral government is.”In September last year theLiberal Democrat raised thequestion in Parliament ofwhat reserves and balancesare registered with theDepartment for Communitiesand Local Government forSefton Council.He was told that the localauthority had £18.5m tied upin ‘school reserves’, £41.4min ‘other earmarkedfinancial reserves’ and £3.7min ‘unallocated financialreserves’.The MP’s commentsfollowed recent reports in thenational press on councilcuts, in which CommunitiesSecretary Eric Pickles said:“It is unacceptable that somecouncils are stashing awaybillions, turning town hallsinto Fort Knox, whilst at thesame time threatening to cutfrontline services.”A Sefton Councilspokesperson dismissed theclaims that the council haslarge amounts of moneyavailable in reserves, statingthe ‘other earmarkedfinancial reserves’ were all“spoken for” in projects suchas the Switch Island Link, TheAtkinson and Decent Homestransfer to One VisionHousing.Meanwhile the ‘unalloca–ted financial reserves’ is saidto be set aside for “emer–gencies and unforeseencircumstances.”As for the council’stransparency, the spokesperson added: “We dopublish the budget in full andit’s regularly updated tocabinet, but the minute detailJohn Pugh is looking for is inthe past and impractical.”Sefton Council’s leader,Labour councillor PeterDowd, hit back at Mr Pugh’scomments and said: “We’rehaving the most transparentand open budgetary processwe’ve ever had and he’s twoyears too late.”FTrappedman iscut freefrom carA MAN was cut freefrom his car in theearly hours ofTuesday morningfollowing a collision.Firefighters arrivedat the incident nearthe junction ofPasture Lane andSouthport Old Road,Formby at about1.30am where theyfound the car partlyinaditch.They usedhydraulic cuttinggear to remove arear door of a car toallow paramedics tomove the45–year–old–manon to a long board toa waitingambulance.He was then rushedto UniversityHospital Aintree.An appliance fromFormby CommunityFire Station and anappliance fromBootle andNethertonCommunity FireStation attended thecall–out.The Search andRescue Team, basedat CroxtethCommunity FireStation alsoresponded to thecall–out.KiddielandEST. 1962Visit us @ www.ChampNews.com • 3• Prams • Car Seats • Furniture • Toys • AccessoriesJANUARY OFFERSilver Cross 3D Pramwith bagTelephone: 0151 922 5075315-323 Stanley Road, Kirkdale, Liverpool L5 7QFOpen 10am-5pm (10-4pm Wed) CLOSED SundayTake a look at these helpful guides...Available for FREE DOWNLOAD nowat champnews.comWas £335NOWONLY£2351115575Available in arange of coloursMust be paid & collected byend of January 20131115396Ancestry helpdesk for residents whowant to trace their family historyNEXT month, Formby residents who areinterested in tracing their family history willhave another chance to use a specialancestry helpdesk at the town’s library.The Duke Street library runs the popularfamily history helpdesk on the first Tuesdayof the month giving help and advice toanyone keen on tracing their family tree.The next session will be held on February 5.Formby Library manager, Lisa Laisney,said: “With families getting together overChristmas we often find there is anincreased interest in tracing family historyand people have gleaned pieces ofAvailable for freedownload now atchampnews.comYour KitchenTRANSFORMEDDoors, Drawer Fronts, Handlesand Worktops changedfrom £1200 to £1600– including fitting!For a Free,No Obligation Consultation,please phoneNEW LOOK KITCHENSnow on01704 2337771112108information which may help but they are notsure how to proceed.“There is no need to book and people fromthe local Family History Society will be onhand from 10.30am until noon to answerany queries so please come along.“Items such as the Ancestry website whichis available free in the library and alsoinformation such as Parish Registers andstreet directories which can all help infinding important information.”For more information on all the eventstaking place, call Formby Library on 01704874177.GlassesWhile You Wait2 pairs of single vision glasses from £752 pairs of bifocal glasses from £952 pairs of varifocal glasses from £115£10EYETESTSSingle vision lenses while you wait.Same day service on varifocaland bifocal lensesEmergency repair serviceContact LensesFREE NHS Sight TestsHome Visits AvailableKids Go Free* terms & conditions apply.Blundellsands Optical Ltd13 - 15 MerseyviewBrighton-le-Sands L22 6QA0151 931 46191113811Worried you mightneed a new bestfriend in 2013?Our experienced team of family lawyers willhelp make the separation and divorce process as stressfree as possible for everyone - even poor Scamp!0800 694 6660Family services -Flying the Flag for You and Your FamilyLIVERPOOL CITY CENTRE 0151 227 4545AINTREE FORMBY HESWALL HUYTON KIRKBY MAGHULL WEST KIRBY