Labour Cllr John Legrys has responded to North West Leicestershire District Council's plan to reduce services in Coalville - and says it could turn out to be a 'false economy'.

He was reacting to the news last week that cuts will be made to avoid an increase in local Council Tax by the Conservative controlled council.

Among the services to be targeted will be some grass cutting, as well as litter bins and buildings.

A statement from North West Leicestershire Labour says: "Labour Councillors would keep the parks tidy, maintain the play equipment and charge you an extra box of bedding plants to do it. But who would vote for that?

"People are struggling to pay their bills.

"They know that, without a massive hike in their Council tax, some things have to go.

"People have also said they want their parks to be well maintained.

"They want litter in bins, not blowing about the street.

"The Special Expenses committee care for parks and play equipment in Coalville and some surrounding villages. Labour Councillors have taken another look."

Cllr Legrys said: "We can't afford to make choices that will, down the line, turn out to be a false economy.

"A stitch in time saves nine. Maintaining our play equipment is an investment in our children's lives."

North West Leicestershire Labour added: "Labour's alternative budget would raise the Coalville Area Special precept by nine per cent and the other areas by five per cent.

"That is £6.65 or less per Band D property: about the same as a tray of bedding plants per household per year.

"Labour also makes some less popular choices.

"With very little money in reserves, Labour would reduce the special funding for Events and find partners to fund both these and our community buildings."

Cllr Legrys added: "However much we might like to, we cannot afford to splurge money on one-off parties and neglect the basic maintenance of our home.

"Besides, if an organisation came to put on an externally funded event, we'd have to cut the grass anyway.'

Cllr Legrys also posted on the Friends of Coalville Labour Facebook page to comment on the planned cuts.

He says that the Coalville Special Expenses Working Group was effectively told by the Conservative council leader Richard Blunt to make selected cuts to avoid that increase.

Cllr Legrys added that efforts made by the Coalville Special Expenses Working Group to keep cuts to a minimum were 'not worth it'.

He has also urged people to attend Thursday's Full Council meeting when the budget proposals will be put forward.

He posted: "Cllr Blunt has announced that he and his Conservative Cabinet are going to cut services in Coalville.

"Pavilions are to be closed at Melrose and Greenhill.

"Litter bins are to be removed. Flowerbeds are to be left to grow wild.

"Did he ask Coalville residents what they wanted? Well, yes and no.

"Coalville doesn't have a Parish or Town Council. Instead, there is the 'Coalville Special Expenses Working Group' (CSEWG).

"Councillors from Coalville, Greenhill and Thringstone meet to discuss issues, such as parks and litter bins, that would normally be looked after by a Parish Council.

"CSEWG has no powers of its own. It is advisory and subservient to the Cabinet.

"Cllr Blunt sent a message to the CSEWG. It said, in a nutshell, 'What would you like to cut so that we Tories don't have to raise the precept?'"

Council leader Richard Blunt

But Cllr Legrys says he wonders if it was all worth it.

He added: "Nobody likes to see cuts to public services.

"Some Councillors boycotted the meetings, so they didn't have to think about it.

:But most of the CSEWG Councillors did their best.

"They had excellent help from the Council's Finance Team and came up with a wide range of suggestions for change.

"Was it worth it?

"Clearly not. Nothing that would keep services going made it into Cllr Blunt's plans.

"Labour Councillors do not agree with closing well-loved community facilities. We do not agree with letting our town go to rack and ruin.

"Neither do we agree with Councillors going cap in hand to developers.

"Especially when they will be back soon enough with a planning application.

The people of Coalville need to decide just how much we want tidy streets, pretty parks and places for young people to go.

"If enough people turn up to the Council offices on Thursday 23rd at 6.30pm to watch Cllr Blunt propose his controversial Budget maybe, just maybe, the Tories will listen to reason and change their plans."