A Review of Conservative leaflets in Teignbridge
The Claim: The Claim:Lib Dems have made "No Business investment".
"Despite having £2 million to spend on business investment last year, the Liberal Democrats didn't spend a penny of it. The funds sat idle while they should have been used to support our struggling high streets."
This claim has appeared in Conservative leaflets in Teignbridge including those for Ben Kirby in Chudleigh Knighton
The evidence:
The £2 million referred took some tracking down. It appears in this year's budget report here: https://democracy.teignbridge.gov.uk/documents/g3088/Public%20reports%20pack%2021st-Feb-2023%2010.00%20Full%20Council.pdf?T=10 On page 105, Appendix 12a section 1.1.
The exact words are…
"There is a £2 million provision for employment sites, funded from borrowing and developer contributions where applicable. This will encourage new and existing businesses to set up, move in and stay in the area." (Our emphasis added)
The budget allowed for borrowing up to 2 million to assist suitable projects. This absolutely is not "having £2 million to spend" or "The funds sat idle". The truth is there were no funds, there was no money to spend. There was authority to borrow the money if it was appropriate, but the Liberal Democrat administration chose not to borrow that money and avoided taking Teignbridge further into the red.
Conclusion:
| False: | The truth is there were no funds, there was no money to spend. there was only an authority to borrow. |