Lib Dems oppose new Hinckley and Bosworth Tory Bin Tax
Liberal Democrat Councillors voted against the Conservatives proposals for a new tax on brown bins at the Council meeting today (18th February 2016).
Conservative bosses also agreed a 4.5% Council Tax rise too. Similar further rises are planned for each of the next four years - which will increase Council Tax by nearly 18% over the Conservatives four-year term.
In his response to the budget Lib Dem Opposition Leader Cllr Stuart Bray (Hinckley Castle Ward) said: "The Conservatives recently undertook a botched consultation exercise where local residents were asked to choose between either a council tax rise or a new brown bin tax and now the Tories have ignored local people and are implementing both.
"Residents now face a Tory triple-whammy. An inflation-busting Council Tax rise, a new tax to empty their bins and large increases in many fees, including a new charge for rat treatment and a rise in the cost of getting buried in the Borough. It is said that there is nothing certain in life except death and taxes and both of these are set to get a whole lot more expensive under the Tories."
"Conservative cuts at Westminster and County Hall are having a huge impact on the Borough Council's finances and local people are having to pick up the bill. If you tot-up the increases being imposed by the Count y Council, Police Commissioner and the Borough Council, people are going to be significantly worse off. But one thing is clear, with the Conservatives in charge at every level there is nobody else they can blame."
Lib Dem Finance Spokesman Keith Lynch (Hinckley Clarendon) added "For the previous eight years through careful planning and sound financial management, which was highly praised by independent auditors, the Lib Dems were able to protect front line services, freeze Council Tax for 5 years and put money away for a rainy day. After just one year the Conservatives are making a mess of it."
County Councillor Michael Mullaney (Hinckley Division) has today launched the Lib Dem petition. People can sign the Bin Tax petition by visiting www.BosworthLibDems.org.uk.
Cllr Mullaney added, "The Council estimates that 60% of the public will send their brown bins back and not pay the Tories' new bin tax. We are concerned that this will lead to an inevitable rise in fly-tipping and the cost of cleaning this up with fall back on the taxpayers."