WILTSHIRE'S Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) is presenting his case as to why our Council Tax will increase.

The police service part of the increase is in response to the £110m shortfall of funding from central government by 2017-18. The proposed increase will not maintain current local police levels, but is the largest increase allowed by central government. Any further increase will mean a referendum. Other independent PCCs have suggested a 25 per cent increase of the local police's precept from council tax.

Wiltshire County Council and the government are not coming clean about the upcoming cuts to public services across the board, not just the police service. Wage increases are stagnating, nurses are refused a one per cent pay increase, but Tory county councillors award themselves a 30 per cent pay increase. Cuts to services mean the youth, hardworking low earners, and the vulnerable in our society, will suffer the most. The council is not being genuine by ignoring the shortfalls in their own budgets and the subsequent rises in our council tax, over the forthcoming years.

The council's own highways and transport department say even with their budgetary increases, they will not be able to achieve 60 per cent of the work, required this year.

Having spoken to county councillors, there is real concern as to how the council will be able to function. Even more worrying, is the lack of imagination on display to meet the shortfall. I'm reminded of rabbits caught in the headlights. The juggernaut of Westminster imposing 20 per cent cuts to local government spending next year is upon us.

I do not say this lightly, but now is the time for real action. The UK is the best place in the world to run and grow a business. World leaders in their field operate from South Wiltshire, from Engineering to Life Sciences. Our MP and the Tory led council should be promoting small and micro business owners in every sector. Start-ups are being created at an all-time record rate, with more people choosing to be self-employed. More women and young people in particular are setting up in business for the very first time.

There needs to be political leadership and focus on the pressing issues small businesses face today, and will only intensify over the coming years. The Liberal Democrats recognise small businesses are fundamental to our long-term prosperity. 99 per cent of the 4.9 million businesses in the UK are small and micro businesses. Small businesses are agile and create jobs faster, and in larger numbers, than any other kind of organisation can. They are the very fabric of our community.

Liberal Democrats will continue to promote alternative sources of finance, such as Vince Cable's British Business Bank. Liberal Democrats will continue to fight short-termism from traditional retail banking and get behind good firms. The British Business Bank would never have had existed if it were not for Liberal Democrats in government. We will commit resources for the Bank to continue its work, boosting and diversifying lending channels, particularly to start-ups and growing businesses.

By launching apprenticeships, Liberal Democrats in government created over two million new jobs for young people, when Labour said it could not be done. I want to see reform of this new scheme built for the long-term. I invite the council and our MP to join me as I work to establish a quality apprenticeship scheme with small business at its heart.

We are a nation of shopkeepers, admired as such by the world. However, the council and our MP are running down Salisbury and South Wiltshire, with business rates driving shop keepers out from our local economy, who provide vital jobs, goods and services to our community.

As an economic hub, Wiltshire Council should be prioritising the needs of our town centres and high streets, especially in planning decisions. Liberal Democrats will stand up for the local high street, and support park and ride, against Tory plans to shut them. We want fair parking charges that benefit the local community visiting our town centre.

Instead of running local businesses out of town centres, the Tory-led council need to provide discretionary business rates relief, assisting local small businesses; this will support the local economy, safeguard local jobs and preserve our high streets and town centres.

In addition, Liberal Democrats will examine the potential to grant enhanced powers to Business Improvement Districts. This will help unify our fragmented high streets and empower businesses to act collectively to lead the development and rejuvenation of our local areas.

Only with thought and imagination can we attempt to “future-proof” the strains our public services will be under during these next few years. Our police, fire services, teachers and nurses, who will suffer the most, did not create the financial mess we found ourselves in. I cannot accept a strong economy should be built off the backs of public servants.

Liberal Democrats are building a fair society and a strong economy. If our MP is unable to provide such leadership, he needs to stand aside.

Reeten Banerji

Prospective Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Salisbury and South Wiltshire