Labour Councillors are set to turn down a free £1.4 million government handout to freeze council tax in the borough (worth 2.5%) and are set to raise the same amount of £1.4 million from the pockets of local people instead by increasing council tax levels in the borough by 2.5%.
Conservative Leader Andrew Eade said “I find it very difficult to believe let alone justify why Labour Councillors are refusing a free handout of £1.4 million from the Coalition Government only to then raise the same amount from the pockets of local people instead.”
“Clearly there is no justification whatsoever for increasing council tax at this stage or raising this huge amount of cash instead from our local community.”
“They must realise that taking £1.4 million out of the pockets of local people will reduce spending on local goods and services that in turn will damage the prospect for jobs in the borough, not only now but also in the future.”
“Many people will find paying this extra cash such a strain and it is unfair and unnecessary that they should have to pay out this money that is simply available from elsewhere.”
“After all the £1.4 million on offer from the Government is our cash that we have already paid in taxes, why on earth should we have to pay twice in this manner.”