Lord Forsyth will be pleased. Stirling Council has agreed a 1% Council Tax cut, the first Scottish Council to bring in a reduction for at least four years. The cut was voted through by Labour and Conservative councillors in defiance of the budget proposed by the SNP minority administration. The SNP called it "irresponsible" – […]
Excellent news from the Brighton and Hove Council meeting last night where Labour and Conservative councillors joined forces to approve a Council Tax freeze. This defeated the proposal of the Green Party minority administration for an increase of 3,5%. One of the Green Party's own councillors voted against the Council Tax increase. Do have a […]
The Green-run administration in Brighton and Hove appear to be facing defeat over their plans to increase the Council Tax. There will be a meeting this evening and Labour and Conservative councillors are backing a freeze. The TaxPayers Alliance have issued a dossier which notes that since 2001-02 Brighton and Hove residents have seen their […]
Peterborough City Council has gone ahead with its very damaging proposal to increase the Council tax by 2.95%. The opposition councillors from the Lib Dems, Labour and the independents all backed an alternative budget which would have frozen the Council Tax and included a cut in councillor allowances. An episode of political role reversal with […]
Excellent news from the Chorley Guardian that Conservative-led Chorley Borough Council is to cut the Council Tax by 1%. It adds that the Council has also found money to spend tackling grot spots. That is very sensible – making their priorities their residents priorities. The report says: Bosses will reduce their share of council tax […]
I am delighted to see that Wirral Council, now against Conservative-led, is proposing a 3% cut in Council Tax. The proposal would need the backing of the Lib Dems to be agreed at the next Council meeting on March 1st. But this seems likely.. They are supportive of Council Tax cuts – although they favoured […]
Congratulations to Cllr Louise McKinlay, the leader of Conservative-run Brentwood Council and her team on achieving a 2.1% reduction in Council Tax. At the same time spending on front line services is being increased. Big savings have resulted from sharing back office services with Essex County Council. Brentwood also shared a chief executive – they […]
Cllr Colin Barrow, the Leader of Westminster City Council says council leaders should spend as if it was their own money Today Westminster’s Cabinet will confirm our intention to freeze our council tax for a record fifth year in a row, whilst at the same time responding to the concerns of our residents by putting […]
Congratulations to Conservative-run Monmouthshire County Council on their decision to freeze the Council Tax. This achievement counts for rather more than a council achieving a freeze in England or Scotland as there is no funding to help pay for the freeze from the Welsh Government. Monmouthshire have cut back on building and office staff and […]
There are 326 local authorities in England and so far over 200 of them have agreed to freeze or cut the Council Tax. South Holland is now among those expected to announce a cut. Since the list was published the Evening Standard has reported that Westminster City Council will be bringing in a freeze. One […]
John O'Connell of the Taxpayers Alliance on plans to mobilise grassroots opposition to Council Tax hikes Several councils across the country are planning to increase Council Tax, and ignore the Government's offer to freeze it. On Friday Harry wrote about Surrey County Council, and how we at the TPA pointed out some areas where they […]
Conservative-run Peterborough City Council, which proposes a 2.95% increase in the Council Tax, is providing a subsidy of £83,500 to the trade union UNISON. This is even more than the Taxpayers Alliance had earlier estimated. Cllr Irene Walsh, the Cabinet Member for Community, Cohesion and Safety, disclosed the information in a letter to the Conservative […]
I am delighted to see that Conservative-run Taunton Deane Borough Council has pulled back from a proposal for a 3.45% Council Tax increase. A freeze is now proposed. This was something the Conservatives pledged. The Council leader Cllr John Williams says: "We made that proposal because the finances of the council are deteriorating in the […]
Any council that decides to put up its Council Tax on the basis that it is so efficient that there is no alternative must expect to have its spending scrutinised. The Taxpayers Alliance have made the following points about Surrey County Council, a Conservative-run Council that has voted to increase the Council Tax by 2.99% […]
Baroness Warsi, the Conservative Party Co Chairman, has written to Conservative councillors to stress that the Council Tax freeze will be a key issue in this year's local elections and and to urge them to take up the offer. She says: I am writing to you as we enter another important period for the Party. […]