Lib Dems slam double inflation Council Tax Rise

12.00.00am GMT Wed 11th Feb 2004

Speaking at a meeting of the Council's Strategy and Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee tonight, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr Stephen Knight, slammed the proposed 5.6% Council Tax rise as unnecessary.

"After last year's record tax increase, the Council's coffers are overflowing. Reserves have soared from around £5 million at the time of the last local elections to around £30 million today, as the Tories hoard as much cash as they can. There is no justification for another inflation busting increase this year and this increase is twice the level of inflation."

"The Council can easily afford to freeze the Council Tax this year to give some relief to hard pressed local tax payers."