Lib Dems keep Council Tax down and invest surplus reserves

10.37.02am GMT Wed 7th Feb 2007

Tax increases compared

The Liberal Democrats have announced their first budget since winning control of Richmond Council in May last year, with a Council Tax rise of 4.9%, just ½% above inflation (RPI = 4.4%) or £1.06 per week.

This modest rise compares with a massive 15.6% increase four years ago after the Conservatives won control and set their first budget in 2003. The Liberal Democrats have found over £4.5m of savings and efficiencies in order to keep the Council Tax down, and to pay for extra money for key service improvements, such as:

· introduction of doorstep cardboard and plastics collections (£750k);

· extra youth services (£250k);

· new sustainability team to reduce the Council's energy use (£100k);

The Administration has also found money to meet the growing need for care services for older people and those with learning difficulties (+£900k); the needs of children in care (+£400k); and the needs of children with special educational needs (£300k). As well as balancing the budget, the Liberal Democrats have announced plans to invest surplus reserves, hoarded by the Conservatives, in major service improvements:

· £20 million over 4 years on our secondary school buildings, over and above the £30m for Teddington School;

· New £1 million fund for new youth facilities;

· New £425k economic development fund to promote local businesses and high streets.

Councillor Stephen Knight, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources said:

"We understand that many people find the Council Tax an onerous burden and remember the 15.6% increase imposed by the previous Conservative administration in their first year. We are determined to keep tax rises as low as possible and have worked hard to keep this year's increase down to less than 5%. At the same time, I'm please to confirm that we have found money to fulfil our manifesto commitments around recycling and youth services. In opposition we said the Conservatives had hoarded an excess of reserves, above what we needed to maintain a prudent financial position and, as promised, we are setting about investing the surplus in key service improvements such as secondary school buildings and youth facilities."