Tory's speech likened to "ramblings of Donald Trump" as Lancaster City Council sets budget

The Conservative leader's speech was compared to the "ramblings of Donald Trump" as Lancaster City Council voted through its budget.

Green Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox likened rival Councillor Andrew Gardiner to the US President during a debate over how the council will spend its money in 2026/7.

This came after Councillor Gardiner, leader of the Tory group, said he was "a little confused" about the council's financial position and then quizzed Councillor Hamilton-Cox, cabinet member for finance, over claims that they hadn't had to borrow money.

Their exchange came as Lancaster City Council met to agree its 2026/27 budget on Wednesday at Morecambe Town Hall.

"Several years ago, I was in very heated discussions during Covid regarding (council-owned) commercial properties," said Councillor Gardiner on Wednesday.

"I am positive we borrowed a lot of money to buy places like the Reebok building (on White Lund). Tonight I'm being told we haven't borrowed any money. That really does confuse me.

"Councillor Hamilton-Cox, if you want to build a house, you have to make sure the foundations are right first.

"This has been flagged up many a time about our commercial properties and questions asked, do we have enough money to build and repair?

"I believe if we offload these commercial properties we can actually support the residents of this area and provide what they require, which is good quality housing.

"The vision has been wrong. Housing is always the best investment. Tonight we've had a presentation, and (Councillor Hamilton-Cox) doesn't know what the basics are. That's really concerning.

"You've got the Wilko building sitting empty. That's costing us how much in business rates? How much did the roof cost (of the Reebok building) for repair? How many millions did we buy it for? You're telling me that came out of council funding, we didn't borrow anything? 

Below, the former Wilko premises in Lancaster

"I really am confused. I want the whole chamber to see that report that we borrowed no money to buy commercial properties."

Councillor Hamilton-Cox called Councillor Gardiner's speech "a performance" and said:

"It reminds me of the ramblings of Donald Trump.

"You weave together such disparate things, how do you respond? It's pointless.

"It's mostly Conservative controlled authorities that overextended themselves on commercial property. I'm glad to say this council didn't.

"I agree there was an aspiration, starting in early 2019, and I was opposed to that commercial property investment strategy. Certain investments were entered into and certain outcomes have arisen.

"There is work going on all the time to address issues arising from the commercial property estate. There isn't a determination to hold onto assets for the sake of it."

Lancaster City Council bought the former Reebok building on the White Lund Industrial Estate and the-then Wilko store building in Lancaster city centre in 2020, when the council was led by Labour.

The Wilko building has been closed since 2023 when the retailer went into administration.

Councillor Jason Wood, leader of the Labour group, also responded to Councillor Gardiner at the meeting.

"Reebok and Wilkos, we funded those from our council reserves," said Councillor Wood.

"The advice at the time was that we did not have to borrow. That's your answer.

"With respect to (Councillor Hamilton-Cox) he's not going to have the answer in his head for every single (council) building across the District."

Later in the meeting, before the vote on the budget, Councillor Martin Bottoms (below), the Morecambe Bay Independent cabinet member for Morecambe regeneration and local economy, proposed that £35,000 be used to create a fund for small festivals in the Lancaster and Morecambe area, with applications capped at £5000.

The money would come from £460,000 earmarked to be transferred to internal council reserves, for the upcoming *Local Government Reorganisation.

But as council rules state no budget amendments can be brought during a Budget Council meeting, Councillor Bottoms' proposal will be debated in future.

Speaking about the overall budget, Councillor Wood (below) said: "The Labour group is concerned that there are elements of this budget which don't reflect our priorities and values.

"Had the amendment from Councillor Bottoms been included we might have thought differently about it.

"This year the Labour group will be abstaining.

"We can't support it but we don't want to frustrate the ability of the administration to continue or frustrate the ability of the council to operate."

Councillors then voted by a majority in favour of the budget proposals.

The General Fund Revenue Budget was set at £27.833m for 2026/27.

The council's revenue budget is funded by Council tax, business rates, grants, fees and charges, and other income, and is spent on council staff, supplies and services, transport, premises and other projects.

Councillor Hamilton-Cox said this year's budget included "extra resource into street cleaning", with an extra £250,000 per year invested into keeping the district clean and well-presented.

Funds will support additional staffing, fleet requirements, equipment and operational costs. The council said this will help improve the frequency and responsiveness of services such as grass cutting, street cleaning and general maintenance across the district.

They said the investment has been made possible through savings elsewhere in the budget and income growth, including from the growing success of the council’s commercial services.

They said the council’s commercial venues such as the Ashton Hall, The Platform and The Storey now generate an annual turnover of £1.25m.

Over the past year events at the Ashton Hall have increased from 30 to 90 , delivering a 77 per cent rise in room hire income and a 150 per cent increase in bar turnover.

On Wednesday, the council also agreed the annual budget for its Housing Revenue Account - its account for providing council housing - and capital programme for spending on its housing.

Thirty five councillors voted in favour, with none against, and 21 abstentions.

Councillors also voted through the council's annual Capital Programme, which includes money to be spent on various projects including £1.17m on the long-awaited Canal Quarter development in Lancaster, £2.38m on renewing council vehicles, £500,000 on redeveloping Williamson Park in Lancaster, and £310,00 on enabling works on the planned Eden Project Morecambe.

Councillor Brett Cooper of the Morecambe Bay Independents asked what the Eden enabling works were for.

Councillor Hamilton-Cox said they would be "work on council assets to make the immediate environment of Eden as attractive as possible" and were "optional".

After the meeting, Councillor Hamilton-Cox said: “Residents expect our streets, parks and open spaces to be tidy and welcoming.

"(The) extra funding will help our public realm teams build on the excellent work they already do, improving the look and feel of communities across the district, especially in key areas where residents want to see the grass cut more frequently.

“The council has a very extensive asset base – including many listed buildings - and a huge responsibility to maintain them fit for future generations. That costs money but it’s worth remembering that less than a quarter of the council’s total expenditure comes from Council tax.”

At the Lancaster City Council meeting in January, councillors voted to increase the council's share of Council tax by 2.99 per cent

You can read the full budget proposals here.

Read more: Lancaster City Council agrees 2.99 per cent rise in Council tax share - Beyond Radio

How Lancaster City Council will spend your money in 2025/26 - Beyond Radio

Lancaster City Council provides numerous services including building regulations, burials and cremations, car parking, coastal protection, community safety, Council tax and business rates collection, economic development, elections and electoral register, environmental health, housing, leisure, licensing, local planning, markets, museums, public realm, recycling, street cleansing, public toilets, tourism and waste collection.

The council is currently run by a coalition cabinet of Green, Liberal Democrat and MBI councillors. The Greens are the largest group on the council, with Labour as the opposition.

*LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION (LGR)

The Government wants to change how local councils are organised across England. This is called Local Government Reorganisation.

It means that the current system of county, district, borough, and unitary councils could be replaced by new unitary authorities. These new councils would run all local services in their area, and could see Lancaster City Council scrapped.

In November Lancaster City Council voted to support an option that would see the creation of four new unitary councils in Lancashire. This, if approved, would see Lancaster join with the local authorities in Ribble Valley and Preston to form a new council.

The Government is expected to lead a public consultation on LGR proposals early this year, with a preferred option selected in summer 2026.

If approved, elections for shadow authorities could take place in May 2027, with the new councils taking over all services from April 1 2028 (vesting day).

"Inevitably, this will have financial consequences for the council however it is expected that partners will enter into the new authority in the best financial health that is possible, in order to maintain both financial and organisational stability," said a council report.

"During the time from now until vesting day, further transitional costs falling upon the council will occur."