Council tight-lipped on freezing tax bills
CITY council leaders are refusing to be drawn on whether they will accept the Government's offer to fund a tax freeze next year – because they are still waiting for instructions on how much more they will have to cut.
Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles revealed at the Conservative Party conference that the Government will pay councils to freeze their tax bills for a third year running in 2013/14.
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PLEDGE: Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles speaking at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
But Stoke-on-Trent City Council said it cannot make any judgment about the offer because the Government has failed to reveal how much more funding for councils will be cut ahead of next year's budget.
The Labour-run authority snubbed last year's tax freeze incentive and imposed a 3.49 per cent increase – a £26.60 rise to £788.97 for Band A properties.
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Last year's incentive was equivalent to a tax increase of 2.5 per cent and was accepted by the vast majority of local authorities.
This year's tax freeze grant would be equivalent to an increase of just one per cent.
Council leader Mohammed Pervez criticised the Government's 'limited' announcement, adding: "We'll look into it. We are still yet to receive details about the local government grant settlement for 2013/14.
"The level of settlement will be critical in assessing the council's overall financial position going forward. We will consider the situation in line with our funding."
Conservative-controlled Staffordshire County Council has announced a tax freeze for 2013/14 and claims to be investigating how it can reduce tax bills in future years.
Last year the Government imposed a 3.5 per cent cap on tax increases and warned councils they would have to hold a referendum to win approval for more than that.
Under the plans unveiled at the Tory conference, local authorities planning to increase council tax by more than two per cent next year will have to hold a referendum.
Mum-of-two Melissa Turner, aged 35, of Fenton, said: "They are shutting down services all over the place. We should be paying less because we are now getting less. A tax freeze is the very least we should expect."
The Treasury said the Government will set aside an extra £450 million to help freeze council tax bills in England.
The Government claims the freeze will provide relief for hard-pressed families. Critics say the benefits are offset by major cuts in Government funding, which councils are passing on to residents.
Communities and Local Government Secretary Mr Pickles said: "Freezing bills again will really help hard working families and those on fixed incomes."
Sir Merrick Cockell, chairman of the Local Government Association, said: "We have to be clear this is a short-term offer. It doesn't address the huge long-term pressures councils are facing includinbigger cuts than any other part of the public sector."
Comments
by Robnoxious
Thursday, October 11 2012, 2:12PM
“To leave a note,there's nothing left in the kitty. Not only are they morally bankrupt, they take us all down with them. Laughing at us at the prospect of someone else to sort out THEIR MESS. Splash the cash, no control on BENEFIT CLAIMING, so that it has become a culture and no control on immigration, for which now we are paying the penalty. Unless action is taken on these 2 fronts, we are doomed. The Welfare system was designed as a safety net, not a life style choice.”
by smithy1980
Thursday, October 11 2012, 1:35PM
“If people have memories so short that the would consider relecting fools like Ed Milliband, Ed Balls, Hariet Harmen and Yvette Cooper. The same idiots that firmly put this country on the fast track to Bankruptcy last time round. People should never vote for these jokers again, at least while the same people are in positions of power.
I can guaruntee one thing, if Labour remained in power we would now be in the position of Spain/Greece the budget deficeit would have continued to grow with Labours out of control spending.
If they get back into power in 2015, this country is actually doomed. If you think that Cameron, Clegg and Osbourne are bad wait to you get Milliband, Balls, Harmen and Copper running the country.
Balls should be banned from going anywhere near the Treasury he is so incompetent. The thought of Milliband as a PM is totally chilling, this bloke has no charisma, no policy, no vision, no drive, no ambition, no idea - typical Labour I guess. Fast to criticise the opposition but unable to tell us their policies, what they will do and how they can implement them bearing in mind the financial contraints.”
by Johntoe
Thursday, October 11 2012, 9:47AM
“mainstar
Yeah cause we are doing SO well under the filth aren't we? I wont WASTE my vote, people my forebears fought and struggled to give me the right to vote, and if I don't vote.... then I can't complain can I?
and if I, and people who despise them. don't use my/their vote to vote AGAINST the Tories (don't worry I WON'T be voting IN Stoke I live 200 miles away) Then the 'filth' could get re-elected agai.... oh wait. they DIDN'T get elected last time did they?, and that was against Gordon Brown (talk about an open goal?)
SO I will use MY vote to vote AGAINST the Tories, and sadly that means voting for the Tories in the red rosettes, YOU are of course, free to use YOUR vote however you wish,”
by mainstar
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 9:11PM
“Please then explain to me how this is down to the Tories!!
It amazes me all the people on here **** off the council about their mismanagement and their stupid ideas yet the majority will still vote them back in next time!!!"
Because they are stupid and have no mind of their own with which to check out every candidates offerings and making an informed choice. Johntoe on another thread posted that he's not a labour supporter but will vote for them. That in itself should explain why the country is screwed”
by smithy1980
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 5:56PM
“There is absolutely no doubt that this corrupt self serving bunch Labour will opt for the maximum increase whilst cutting services and blaming the 'evil nasty' Tories.
Of course they will continue to be grossly inefficient and create many non jobs for their socialist cronies.
Same old Labour, Same old lies, same old wasting public money.”
by Juzzah
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 1:53PM
“Ok let's all blame the Tories shall we brinsleymaclagan? Can I point two things out:
1. The Tories inherited this country in the mess it is from.....THE LABOUR GOVERNMENT!!!
2. This council has been Labour since the year dot, they have screwed this city and refused to freeze council tax this year
Please then explain to me how this is down to the Tories!!
It amazes me all the people on here **** off the council about their mismanagement and their stupid ideas yet the majority will still vote them back in next time!!!”
by brinsleymaclagan
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 1:42PM
“What kind of corrupt government bribes local councils to freeze council tax bills just to make them look good?
It sounds like something from a third world country!
Then we've got the bribe to reintroduce weekly bin collections- I thought Tories had reached the bottom when Thatcher was in power, but this shower have taken us to a new low!”
by Juzzah
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 1:31PM
“Ok people do something about it then eh? You all come on here and complain about our joke of a council, howabouts voting for someone other than Labour at the next elections???”
by mole10
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 12:44PM
“This Labour Council won't drop the tax hike until just before all 34 Labour Councillors are up for re-election.
In that year, batten down the hatches, because good news stories will come out of Labour's Glebe Street Central office quicker than an expenses for can be cashed.
Well, nearly as fast.”
by leachylee
Wednesday, October 10 2012, 11:19AM
“Will this council actual think of the people they represent this year, the people of this great city of Stoke On Trent who are struggling to make ends meet ever month (because I know I am), or will they try to score points by thumbing their noses at the government, I would like to think the answer would be think off the people they represent, but with this council I wont hold my breath :(.”