Lib Dems predict low 2007 council tax increase - Gaines

12.01.00am GMT Thu 18th Jan 2007

Lib Dems are predicting a low council tax rise this year

West Berkshire Liberal Democrats' Finance spokesperson, Councillor Denise Gaines, has today predicted that the 2007-8 council tax increase will be low, in line with another generous government settlement figure.

Councillor Gaines commented:

"I have seen the provisional settlement figures - i.e. how much money the government is likely to give the Tories to run West Berkshire Council - and the healthy figures give no reason for there to be a significant or high increase in your council tax bill this year. The Tories are lucky to find themselves in an excellent financial position - something which was not afforded to local government for many years."

Councillor Gaines continued to explain what the settlement could mean in practical terms:

"This should mean that the Tories are able to avoid the petty cuts they stuck in last year's budget which saw them forcing frozen meals on vulnerable pensioners, saying they would cut funding for the libraries children's summer reading challenge, and increasing the risk of family breakdown by reducing respite care support."

Liberal Democrats nationally oppose the unfair council tax system, which they would scrap and replace with a system based on ability to pay. Councillor Gaines stated:

"The council tax is the legacy of the Conservatives. Like the Conservatives, it is past its sell-by-date and it is time for it to go. Let us remind ourselves that the Council Tax was born out of the Poll Tax fiasco. How can you justify a tax system that takes 4 times more of the income of the poorest in society than the richest?"