LibDems freeze the council tax!

11.08.00pm GMT Tue 19th Feb 2008

LibDem-run Three Rivers are cutting teir part of the council tax for 2008-09

LibDem-run Three Rivers council has agreed not to raise its level of council tax this year., by setting a 0% increase. The combined effect of the council tax decisions by LibDem led Three Rivers District Council and Abbots Langley Parish Council means a cut of £1.63 for the average local home.

The LibDems budgets include maintaining all existing services, whilst increasing others, including leisure, trees, refuse and recycling and small traffic schemes..

However the Conservative-run county council has passed a budget that increases its share of council tax by 4.5% or about £60 for most local residents.

The county council is cutting a number of services including its youth budget and increasing its fees. Next year, it will be cutting funding for PCSOs. The county council has refused to cut is expenditure of almost £5m on press publicity and advertising!

The Conservative opposition at Three Rivers put forward a proposed budget which would run at a deficit of up to £1.5 MILLION! This would leave the Conservatives with no alternative but to raise council tax by at least 25% in three yeas time, just to balance the books.

Deputy Leader of Three Rivers District Council, Matthew Bedford said, "The LibDem administration has consistently delivered high-quality services and below-inflation tax rises. This year we are confident that we can offer a tax freeze whilst improving services as people want and preserving Three Rivers' strong financial position so that we can keep tax rises down in the future as well.

"However the Conservatives' proposals are totally unsustainable that residents will realise is not prudent financial planning. "