15.6% Tory Council Tax hike creates massive election 'war-chest'

12.00.00am GMT Wed 5th Mar 2003

The Tories' proposed 15.6% increase in Council Tax has been exposed by Liberal Democrat councillors as completely unjustified for funding services and is in fact aimed at creating a massive 'war-chest' for nearer the next elections.

The Tories inherited healthy reserves from the Liberal Democrats of around £5.5 million pounds – accepted by the District Auditor as a reasonable level for the Council. However by the end of this year, this figure will have almost doubled and by the end of next year tripled.

A Liberal Democrat budget amendment will seek to limit the Council Tax rise to 9.85%, slashing £63 off every Band D Council Tax bill, whilst saving public toilets, stopping the proposed new £5-a-visit charge for elderly day centres and increasing the repairs and renewals budget by an extra £1 million.

Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson Cllr Stephen Knight, said: "There is absolutely no justification for a 15.6% Council Tax hike this year - the highest Council Tax increase ever in the borough. "

"The Council Tax takes no account of ability to pay and this huge rise will hit the elderly and those on lower incomes the hardest. Much of this increase will go straight into a Tory 'war-chest' for future years rather than vital services. The Tories can easily afford to save the borough's public conveniences and have no need to charge the elderly the proposed £5-a-day fee for day centres."

"This is a budget that robs the poorest in our community in order to fill the Tory war chest. It is not only unjustified but is a disgracefully cynical political move from a party that has always claimed that it wants lower taxes."

"Bungling Tories can't manage to spend maintenance budget despite claims of crumbling buildings"

"Since they took control of the Council the bungling Tory leadership has only managed to spend around half the £2 million in the budget for maintenance, despite claims that this wasn't nearly enough. This includes money set aside for maintenance of public toilets, now to be closed because of alleged disrepair."

"Councillor Stephen Knight said: "The Tories also claim that they need more money to put right crumbling infrastructure, but the truth is that bungling Tory councillors haven't even managed to spend most of the money that was provided in this year's budget for maintenance. They are clearly incapable of managing the finances of the Council."

"The Liberal Democrat budget would increase the amount available to repair the borough's infrastructure by an extra £1 million – and we would actually spend this money!"