Lib Dems defend council tax plans

12.38.17pm GMT Thu 5th Mar 2009

Brian Watkins, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Norwich City Council, defends the group's council tax plans in a letter to the local press. Lib Dem plans would have seen a freeze on council tax for the coming year.

Dear Evening News,

I was disappointed that the other three political parties failed to back Liberal Democrat proposals for a council tax freeze at the City Council's budget meeting (Evening News 25/02/09). We decided that in these difficult economic times it was right that we give the taxpayers of Norwich a break. Instead, Labour gave us an inflation busting rise in council tax, rent increases for council tenants of 6.4%, and increased charges for garages and a range of other services.

The Liberal Democrats, locally and nationally, believe we need to be handing money back to struggling families rather than giving it to the Labour government and Labour council. This is why we proposed a freeze on council tax locally and propose a cut in income tax nationally. After 12 years of Labour financial mismanagement, the country is in economic dire straits and public services have not improved. Labour waste continues with an ID Card Scheme we don't need and VAT cuts that don't work. Gordon Brown has spent billions bailing out bankers but has failed to bail out households facing financial hardship.

Despite the protestations of our political opponents, our plans were fully funded. A small trimming of reserves to £4.3 million and cutting the unitary preparation budget from £1million to £800,000 were responsible and practical solutions to the economic situation. Saving for a rainy day is sensible but what the council fails to realise is that the rainy day has arrived and people in the city are already suffering. Labour's continued tax and rent rises will cause genuine hardship to families and will force many to start claiming benefits. Whatever spin they put on it, it is clear that the budget was bad news for ordinary people.

The Lib Dems will not take lessons on financial management from Gordon Brown's Labour and readers will remember that the practice of Labour Councillors blindly following the advice of officers and not scrutinising their work led to the housing scandal at Greyhound Opening. Sometimes, we need to make tough and radical decisions and break the cosy consensus at City Hall. It is this consensus that has led to continued tax and rent rises, housing scandals that shame the council, and the embarrassing state of the Memorial Gardens. The Lib Dems under my leadership will not sit back and idly follow the pack. Our proposals were bold but practical and would have given people some much needed cash in their back pockets.

Cllr Brian Watkins

Liberal Democrat Group Leader

Norwich City Council