Cross-party disputes and rivalry arose at Salisbury City Council's latest meeting during discussions on the authority's budget.

Council leaders, who belong to the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, as well as independents, accused members of the opposition Conservative Party of declining to participate during the formulation process to score political points by criticising the budget during the meeting on Monday, January 16.

Conservative Cllr Sven Hocking was critical of the proposal, which would see the precept rise by 44 per cent. 

He said the leadership had previously committed not to raise the precept more than 24 per cent over three years.

He said: “We still have to sort of live within our means rather than tax public.”

Cllr Hocking circulated a one-page document of proposed Conservative amendments to the budget, which included a removal of public funds for the upcoming coronation event and a reduction in funds to the Salisbury Food Pantry.

Cllr Jeremy Nettle said the Conservatives on the council would prefer to seek third-party sponsorship rather than have the expenditure of public money for events such as the coronation celebration. 

Also that a reduction in expenses for the pantry is feasible by reducing the rates that are being paid for the building because the council-owned building is not currently registered as being used by a charitable organisation.

Cllr Hocking said the pantry could be removed from its council-owned property to St. Michael’s Church in Bemerton Heath, removing the cost for the council of providing a building for the pantry.

Cllr Nettle criticised the proposal for such an increase during a cost-of-living crisis.

He said: “Mr. Chairman, you only know too well what an extra £2 a week will do to your residents, my residents and many of our councillors’ around this table.”

Members of the ruling coalition accused members of the Conservative Party of not participating in the budget-building process.

Cllr Ian Tomes criticised Cllr Hocking’s Conservative amendment proposals of not being vetted for feasibility in regard to contracts and details.

He said: “What you’re proposing here is a budget, in effect—not amendments, I would say—that hasn’t had any scrutiny. We don’t know what half of it means.”

In a final vote that fell mostly along party lines, the council approved the budget without amendment, with all Conservatives voting against and all members of the ruling coalition, with the exception of Cllr Paul Sample, voting in favour.