Labour says Coalition must “come clean” on Council Tax hike.
The Joint Administration running Durham County Council has broken a key election pledge by increasing Council Tax.
At Durham County Councils budget setting meeting last Wednesday, Labour called on the coalition of Conservative, LibDem and Independent councillors to come clean on its tax hike and accused the coalition of forcing through a budget during these exceptional times and one that breaks promises made to County Durham voters in last May’s elections.
Families in County Durham are in the middle of a cost of living crisis, with inflation soaring to its highest rate in 30 years; prices, energy, tax and National Insurance all going up, while wages drop and unemployment increases.
Exceptional times call for exceptional measures – Labour could not support a budget based on a 3% Council Tax increase and called on the Tory, LibDem, Independent led coalition to scrap its proposals and come back with a balanced budget that protects front line services and sets Council Tax at a justifiable and affordable level to support our residents who are suffering due to an unprecedented squeeze on household budgets.
The coalition policy changes to suit its own needs, claiming a no Council Tax hike has now become a 3% rise, no social care crisis becomes a need to raise funds for adult social care and their pledge of open and honest processes are anything but.
What we have seen from this Tory, LibDem and Independent coalition is, in less than ten months in charge, is a Council Tax rise, reduced Fire Service funding, building a third HQ, creating two new senior posts at a cost of £211,000, continuing to charge for pest control, including an attempt to give councillors a pay rise.
Is that what people in County Durham voted for; the voters of Ferryhill have provided the answer and elected a Labour Councillor?
Your Aycliffe Labour County Council team.