Local Taxpayers to pay the price of government’s failure to deliver fair funding
There's been an angry reaction to news that the Conservative County Council is proposing a maximum 4.99% Council Tax rise this year. Liberal Democrats have pointed out that if the government fairly funded Leicestershire residents wouldn't have to face such a big increase in their Council Tax.
Leicestershire Liberal Democrats Finance Spokesman Councillor Michael Mullaney said "The announcement that the Conservative County Council will be pushing for the maximum 4.99% Council Tax rise is a huge blow for residents in Leicestershire, many of whom are struggling financially already due to the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Sadly this big Council Tax increase is not a surprise. This is because Leicestershire is the worst funded County by the Conservative government in the country. This means that residents are being hit by big Council Tax bills, whilst in future there's still a risk that we will see many services cutback too.
"When the Chancellor Rishi Sunak was a Junior Local Government minister a couple of years ago he met with the Conservative leader of the County Council and was apparently convinced of the case for fair funding for Leicestershire. Now Mr Sunak's Chancellor and in charge of the nation's finances he has forgotten Leicestershire too.
"Despite electing all Tory MPs in Leicestershire County they, along with the Conservative leadership at the County Council, have repeatedly failed to deliver fair funding for Leicestershire. As a result people already finding it hard to make ends meet are going to be hit by spiralling Council Tax rises again this year"
The proposed Council Tax rise will be considered by the County Council Cabinet when it meets on Friday 5th February. It will then be brought to the full County Council on 17th February.