Lib Dems Proposed to Keep Council Tax Down

12.00.00am GMT Tue 3rd Mar 2009

Cllr Denise Rance, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition on Dacorum Borough Council, put forward an amendment to the Conservative Budget at the meeting of the Full Council on 25th February. The amendments included:

• restoration on the suspended Community Fund so Borough Councillors can grant money to local organisations in their wards;

• restore as many as possible of 11 public toilets axed by the Conservative Council;

• give the Apsley Paper Trail a helping hand with their financial difficulties by waiving their £30,000 a year rent paid to the council and charge them a pepper corn rent instead;

• and a reduction in Council Tax proposed by the Conservative administration

An acceptance of the motion would have meant a council tax increase of just 3.95% however, the Conservatives, supported by labour, voted against the amendment and a 4.94% increase was passed instead.

Highfield Councillor Lloyd Harris said "We're in a credit crunch. Times are hard for people and we have to do what we can to ease their pain."

Liberal Democrat Councillor Christopher Townsend is appalled that Tory incompetence is going to lead to a decrease in the services that the Council provides.

He says 'The mantra of 'blame Labour for the cuts' has been repeatedly rehearsed at Council meetings but the reality is that years of financial mismanagement have also contributed to this crisis'.

'The Council has around 60 million pounds in cash but cannot spare £30,000 to save our heritage'.

'This absurdity is caused by the Conservatives inability to manage capital and revenue accounting'.

Liberal Democrats believe the solution is for the Council to immediately accelerate capital expenditure in order to benefit the local economy. Otherwise the bitter pill of reduced public services will be compounded by further unnecessary weakening of the local economy.