“If the Conservative Government has billions to spend on concealed contracts for their chums, why can’t they raise the cash to help councils rather than raising council tax?” says Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance Cllr David Boothroyd.

Now is not the time for tax rises. If the Government can find £22 billion for a failed test and trace they can find the money to protect the local services rather than asking hard pressed residents to foot the bill.

For the last decade Labour have supported Westminster Conservative’s proposed Council Tax levels, while identifying examples of local waste and suggesting efficiency savings to help protect local services to those most in need in the face of Conservative cuts.

We will continue to suggest new ways to protect council services but this year, at the full Council on March 3rd, Labour vote will vote against the Council Tax rise proposed by Westminster Conservatives because we believe the Council should be sending a message to the Johnson Government that they should be the ones to fund vital local services at this unprecedented time.

As in previous years we will accept the proposed increase in the Adult Social Care precept to limit Council’s the cuts in care for the elderly and vulnerable, services that have proved so vital during the pandemic.

Image under Creative Commons: Melting Ice Block Field – Allan Kaprow’s Fluids at Angels Gate. Link.