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KENT TORY ADMINISTRATION PUSHES UP COUNCIL TAX
The Conservative administration at Kent County Council has declared an increase in the rate of Council tax of 2.57% for 2010/11. This recommendation has been made against a background of an inflation busting Labour Government core grant settlement of 3.7% (representing an extra £39 million) to finance schools, social services, highways, libraries and other services. This is quite apart from a whole range of other special grants for specific items that the Labour Government makes available to Kent County Council.
Leslie Christie, Leader of the KCC Labour Group, said “Year after year, in the past, the Tories have criticised these settlements as niggardly and insufficient even though they were normally above inflation. They have claimed, among other things, that the money was going “up North” when in some years it was actually coming South. At last, however, the Cabinet Member for Finance, John Simmonds, has acknowledged that the Labour Government has made generous settlements to Kent County Council by recently declaring that the “gravy train” would not be continuing into the future. This year’s settlement, therefore, would point to a lower rate of increase than the 2.44% hike in 2009/10 but not at the expense of a pay freeze on our lowest paid staff.”
The Tories are claiming that the rate of Council Tax should only increase by 1.86% but because the Labour Government has not yet paid some £4 million to the Asylum Service there is no alternative but to recommend a rise of 2.57%.
Leslie Christie commented “This is totally misleading. The Labour Government is paying for the Asylum Service provided that the claims are backed by proper documentation. No Government of whatever political persuasion will hand out taxpayers’ money without full verification. If the Tory administration cannot provide what is needed, then the fault lies more with them than with the Labour Government. Not only that, there is no guarantee whatsoever that the money would be returned to council taxpayers in full even when a settlement is reached. In 2000/2001 a previous Tory administration made a similar claim and Council Tax payers never got their £3 per household back after the settlement with the Labour Government had been achieved. If the Conservatives really believe that the rate of increase should be 1.86% then they should stand by their convictions. If they believe rather that it should be a 2.57% increase they should say so openly and not try to conceal this by the diversionary tactic that it is something to do with the Asylum Service when it clearly is not.”
Leslie Christie:
01474 361564 or 07889 639428
