Tory promise broken - local tax double rate of inflation. (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Tory promise broken - local tax double rate of inflation.

April 10, 2006 7:31 AM

Finance Convener criticises SNP opposition over budget

Council tax rise goes to Tory Cllrs pockets

Local residents have reacted angrily to the Conservative Council's decision to increase our Council Tax by 4.8% whilst slashing essential services.

Swindon residents have received their Council Tax bill in the last month. It contains details of yet another tax increase, this time at double the rate of inflation.

Eastcott election candidate Dave Wood said: "It is unacceptable for the Tories to hit the town with yet another tax increase whilst cutting funding to vital community services like pensioner lifeline Dial-a-Ride and ending half-price fares concession on buses for school aged children."

Freshbrook & Grange Park election candidate Heidi Teague added: "Council Tax is unfair and 15 years out of date. The Liberal Democrat policy of axing Council Tax and replacing it with a local income tax would benefit pensioners and hard-working families considerably."

• Tories selfish act

Included in the council tax bill is a selfish pay rise that Conservatives forced through the Council. With Labour support, the Tory Council leader enjoys a 54% pay rise, the deputy leader gets a 57% rise. All the Tories in the Cabinet get the last laugh as they award themselves a 38% boost to their wages.

Lib Dem candidate Heidi Teague continued: "I am sickened that the Tories won the last local elections promising cheaper taxation, and then cut essential services, closed old people's homes, paid themselves increased wages, and then increased tax locally by twice the rate of inflation. You simply can't trust the Tories in Swindon to tell the truth anymore."

Lib Dem candidate Dave Wood added: "I think it was not only unfair, but also in very poor taste for the Conservatives to have voted themselves a huge pay increase at such a time. Lib Dems on the Council voted against all these rises and against the Tories slash and spend activities."

Tories increase taxes says Dave Wood

Liberal Democrats stand by their voting record since 2000. They voted for two council tax rises - 6.8% (2001) and 7.3% (2004) and against two 15.5% (2002) and 15% (2003). The latter two rises were proposed by Labour and passed because Conservative councillors abstained or missed the crucial budget meetings. Council Tax has gone up by 7.8% since the Tories took control of the Council from Labour in 2005.