A proposed budget amendment calling on Leicestershire County Council to increase funding for bus services and flood prevention has been rejected.

The Liberal Democrat opposition on the Conservative-run council put forward the suggested changes at today's (Wednesday) budget meeting.

The Lib Dems said their proposals were "fully costed". The group's amendment asked the council to scrap its magazine called Leicestershire Matters and plough the £100,000 a year they claimed would be saved into local bus services instead.

Leader of the opposition, Michael Mullaney, added that people in his constituency of Hinckley, as well as those in Barwell and Earl Shilton, were "hit hard" by the scrapping of the number one and number two services that linked them.

He added that many residents were also impacted by the council withdrawing funding from the 159 service from Coalville, connecting villages such as Barlestone, Market Bosworth and Newbold Verdon.

He said: "During these tough times financially, spending over £100k on a magazine can't be justified. That money should be used to support local bus services instead."

However, leader of the council Nick Rushton countered the proposed amendment, saying the magazine was an "excellent way to make sure residents who are not online stay up to date with what is happening in their areas". He added that the budget for the magazine had "already been reduced from £750,000 to £108,000".

Some 78 per cent of people who receive Leicestershire Matters said it was useful, he claimed.

Cllr Rushton said: "I think for £108,000 it is particularly good value for communicating with all residents of Leicestershire, but particularly those who aren't as up to date with the internet and modern forms of technology. For £108,000 I honestly think it's money well spent."

County Hall in Glenfield. Photo: Instantstreetview.com

A second amendment was also filed by the Lib Dems' finance spokesman Simon Galton calling on the council to pour more money into flood prevention measures. Much of the county was left underwater at the start of the year after being battered by Storm Henk.

The local authority is already proposing to set aside £400,000 for flood prevention work as part of its budget. The Lib Dems were proposing additional money be freed up by cutting "political support posts" – where elected members support the council's cabinet leads with their duties – from the authority's payroll. They said the council already had excellent officer support and advice via non-political council officer roles, and these rendered political appointments unnecessary.

Cllr Galton said: "Put simply, we believe tackling highway flooding problems is more important than political support posts. The cabinet already has excellent officer support and advice and we don't think political posts are necessary especially when the council is having to cut front line services to residents."

Cllr Galton also referred to the support members as "baggage carriers", a term that drew outrage from both those in the role and the cabinet leads they support.

Cllr Maggie Wright, who supports lead member for highways Ozzy O'Shea, said: "Although Ozzy is quite a superman, I know working for him over the past three years, he doesn't physically or mentally have enough hours in the day or week to do the amount of work or growth that has come into in his portfolio. I do believe my role does make a difference.

"I sit on the regional flood committees, by being on that that is driving forward transformation and bringing more money into Leicestershire to support our residents and to get mitigation into place. If I wasn't there, Ozzy would have to give up something equally important to do this." The two motions were rejected, with councillors voting along party lines.