Overtaxed by the Tories

2.47.00pm GMT Fri 20th Mar 2009

Liberal Democrats propose 1.8 % rise

Labour and Conservatives vote for higher taxes

On the 17th of February, Lib Dem councillors proposed an alternative budget of a 1.8% rise in the council tax.

Conservative and Labour councillors voted this down as a result the tax rise has now been set at 2.9%.

For a band D property county council bills would rise by £18 per under the Lib Dem proposal rather than the £30 rise with the Tory tax hike.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr. Jeremy Hilton said: "Our proposal would have meant the lowest council tax rise in the county's history.

"It was affordable as the savings were less than one percent of the county council's budget.

"This is an exceptional year with the worse recession for 100 years beginning to bite. We felt that with people losing jobs, taking pay cuts and house prices falling, the council tax should be kept as low as possible."

Cllr. Bill Crowther (Hucclecote) said: "The Tories have let us down. They are spending £1,000 a day on a consultant just to advise cabinet on how to do their jobs.

"Similarly, they are spending nearly £1m on communications and council spin every year.

"There is money to be saved and our budget showed how it could be done. We are being overtaxed by the Tories and this should stop."