Elections in Lewisham: virtual hustings

Brockley Central will be posting its virtual hustings interviews all week. They've kicked off with Tam Langley , the Lib Dems's parliamentary candidate for Lewisham Deptford . Next up, Councillor Dean Walton , the Green Party's candidate to become Lewisham's next executive mayor . Sample exchange: Brockley Central : Does Lewisham Council need to make budget cuts in the next two years and - if so - how much needs to be cut and what specific cuts would you make? Dean Walton : The 2010/11 budget has already been agreed and I will not be making cuts to that. Last year the Mayor called for £8.8m of savings but only produced about £2.5m. I believe that there remain significant savings such as energy efficiency measures that can be made without major impacts on services. I would not rule out increasing the increasing the Council Tax raised over and above the rate of inflation but would link this to a package to protect Lewisham's services. I will propose a pensioners' discount on their Council Tax. If I need to make any cutbacks I will protect those budgets which vulnerable members of the community rely on and those which are needed to deliver sustainability measures. Last year the Mayor called for £8.8m of savings but only produced about £2.5m. I believe that there remain significant savings such as energy efficiency measures that can be made without major impacts on services. I would not rule out increasing the increasing the Council Tax raised over and above the rate of inflation but would link this to a package to protect Lewisham's services. I will propose a pensioners' discount on their Council Tax. If I need to make any cutbacks I will protect those budgets which vulnerable members of the community rely on and those which are needed to deliver sustainability measures. Nice priorities, though I wonder which budgets he wouldn't protect? Ambush him on the doorstep, residents! And read the whole interview too. P.S . Brockley Central is a Top London Blog .