COLCHESTER’S Conservatives have revealed the way they think the borough council should spend its £20million budget next year.

Placing Colchester Leisure World into a trust and dramatically limiting plans to halve grants given to parish councils are the two main planks of the group’s alternative budget.

The administration, run by a coalition of Lib Dems, Labour and independent councillors, plans to chop the sum given to 31 town and parish councils from £200,000 to £101,900.

Kevin Bentley, leader of Colchester Council’s Tories, described the move as a cut to frontline services, as parish councils would struggle to maintain play areas, run village halls and keep grass verges looking trim.

Many parishes are deciding whether to raise their council tax precepts, cut services or try to find a new source of income.

Mr Bentley said as Colchester Council had to plan for a 25 per cent cut in its Government grants over the next three years, parish councils should face the same.

He added: “We don’t think 50 per cent in one go is fair and right – these councillors have clearly never been to the countryside.”

The Tories also want to place Leisure World in a trust, with Colchester Council keeping the assets and an independent company running it.

Mr Bentley claimed the administration’s decision to close the centre’s creche would not have been necessary had it become a trust a year ago.

He said: “We’re one of the few authorities left in the country that runs leisure services.

“We would still retain the assets but I think the staff need more freedom to run it. What they’re doing is closing Leisure World down bit by bit.”

Paul Smith, councillor responsible for finance, replied: “The previous administration twice paid for expensive consultations to investigate whether in Colchseter a trust would make or lose money, and both times they decided it was not a good idea to proceed.”

He added: “Why are the Tories making a special case for parish councils as opposed to the museum service or the arts?

“Everyone has to make economies and the parish councils are in the position that they can increase their precepts without penalty, unlike the borough council.”

Colchester Council will vote on its £20.25million budget for 2011/12 at meeting at the town hall on Wednesday, February 16.