Steve Carey's Leader's column February 2006

12.00.00am GMT Wed 1st Feb 2006

At the time of writing I have just returned from taking part in a "Question Time" session with young people from across the borough. This annual event brings together young people from various secondary schools and other groups to discuss a wide range of local, national and international issues.

The day also provides a forum for these young people to question councillors from the three political parties on the council as well as senior officers and the odd MP and MEP.

Once again I was impressed with the range of questions asked and the interest shown by many of those taking part. Sadly, a number of secondary schools did not take part this year and if their head teachers are reading this I can really recommend that their school takes part in the future.

The meeting also elected this year's Youth Council and Hillingdon's Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPs).

Also in the last few days I, along with the other two group leaders, have been shifting diary dates to meet with Ministers about cash owed to Hillingdon by different government departments.

Once again the council faces setting a council tax in a couple of weeks not knowing how much the government is going to cough up! Local government finance is complicated enough without the government changing their figures after the end of the financial year and taking months or in some cases even years to pay their bills.

Some assurances have been received but until we see the cash none of us are totally convinced. What is clear is that this is once again going to be a tough budget. Government requirements for councils to take on more responsibilities are never fully funded and the council tax payer is expected to pick up the bill. This has two advantages for Ministers. First it keeps central government expenditure down and second it put the blame for council tax increases on local councillors and not on Ministers. Cynical or what?