CHURLISH TORIES SPURN GOVERNMENT GENEROSITY

The reaction of the current Tory Leader of Kent County Council, Paul Carter, to the Government’s increase in grant to Kent has been described as “churlish and unhelpful” by Kent Labour.

Mike Eddy, Labour Shadow Leader of Kent County Council, says: “Yet again the Tories have tried to present the Labour Government settlement in as unfavourable light as possible to try and justify high rates of council tax”.

“Nothing is said about the good settlement for schools which will increase between + 3.6% and + 4.9% per annum over the next three years and is a shade above the national average.”

“Mention is made by the Tories of the settlement for other council services that will increase between + 3.2% and + 3.7% per annum but, like the schools grant, is above the national average for all local authorities.”

Deputy Leader and Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, Derek Smyth says: “The Tories are trying to claim that the Kent settlement is below the rate of inflation but this is not supported by Government forecasts which are around

+ 2.75%. No matter how you look at it, this Labour Government settlement is good news for Kent and cannot be used by the Tories in any way to justify excessive increases in council tax.”