BARROW BOROUGH COUNCIL TAX HIKE ROW ERUPTS

First Published by: North West Evening Mail

A GOVERNMENT minister has blasted local politicians for increasing Council Tax in Barrow.

Members of Barrow Borough Council voted on Tuesday to increase Council Tax from April by 3.49 per cent.

The administration said it needs to respond to government cuts on a long term basis, and the Council Tax freeze could not be guaranteed throughout the three year period, so tax has to be raised gradually to protect town hall services and keep job cuts to a minimum.

But over 300 authorities in England (around 80 per cent) have chosen to accept the Council Tax freeze. The move to increase Council Tax has been condemned by local government minister Bob Neill.

Mr Neill said: “Every local resident will be dismayed by Barrow Borough Council’s decision to dodge a referendum by raising Council Tax next year to a hair’s breadth below the level that would give taxpayers a democratic vote.

“Turning down our £108,789 grant which allows Barrow-in-Furness to freeze Council Tax is enough of a kick in the teeth at a time when residents deserve a cost of living break. It’s a cynical move that is simply treating the local electorate with contempt. The council can expect voters to show their displeasure at the ballot box.”

At Tuesday’s meeting Barrow Borough Council leader, Councillor Dave Pidduck said his group had chosen to reject the Council Tax freeze as they are preparing a long term strategy. He said: “We asked the officers of this council to prepare all the figures for us so we could weigh up what accepting the Council Tax freeze would mean.

“We asked what would it mean for the people of this borough and the council. They produced a set of neutral figures and then we took the decision.” All six Conservative members of the council voted against taking the freeze, and accused Labour of going against their pre-election promises.

Councillor Ray Guselli said: “We simply must stop spending other people’s money and reduce local taxes. “This Labour council has even denied the public a proper say, by increasing Council Tax a ridiculous one hundredth of a per cent below the amount which triggers a referendum. “Perhaps they don’t want to hear what people say.”

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Brendan Sweeney said the decision had been a tough one but was a result of the tough government cuts. He said: “It is not a fair choice. The problem we have got is that the government cutbacks are so big.

“We are losing £12m, although have been given a transition grant of £4m but we have to spread this right through to 2015/16 because by then our government funding will be almost halved. “We are always conscious this is public money, but it is the public’s services that we have to provide and protect.” Leader of the opposition, Councillor Jack Richardson, said the refusal to take the grant proves the council is out of touch.

He said: “The national perspective is that we are out of sync. “Over 80 per cent of authorities are taking the grant. “They (Labour) had made their minds up that they were going to put up the rates and increase charges. 

The increased charges means they will bring in an extra £448,000 which is equivalent to a 10 per cent increase in the rates.”

READ WHAT: ERIC PICKLES ‘SECRETARY OF STATE’ SAYS ABOUT OVER-CHARGED COUNCIL TAX.

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