Lib Dems set the record straight on Council Tax rise

Shepway Liberal Democrats have set out the reasons for the substantial increase in Shepway Council Tax.

Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Paul Marsh said, 'Before we came to office in May, we had repeatedly warned the Conservatives that they were running the finances out of control. Once in office we had the opportunity to examine the books in detail. They were much worse than even we had thought. They have left us with run down reserves and a 'black hole' of over £700,000. Reluctantly, we have had to take this step to maintain the services this area really needs like crime reduction schemes, street cleaning and regeneration.'

Shepway has also been hit by a fall in real terms of Government grant.

Chairman of the local Party, Cllr John Hughes said, 'This increase is the real cost of the last Conservative administration. No-one relishes the prospect of raising tax, but the whole local Party is behind the new Council leadership. We know that it is vital to get the finances of Shepway on an even keel'.

Lib Dem campaigner Peter Carroll said, 'The Lib Dems believe that Council Tax is just plain unfair. It hits those on fixed incomes particularly hard and is not linked to the ability to pay. We are the only political party with a viable alternative - local income tax. Michael Howard's Conservatives invented this unjust tax and have not got a clue on how to change it'.

NOTES -

The total Council Tax bill for a band D property in Shepway is £1247 - of this, only £240 is for Shepway Council and the parish and town Councils. The other £1007 goes to Kent County Council and Police & Fire authorities.

The cost of Shepway's rise is £67 a year on a band D property - just less than £6 a month.

The actual rise in total Council Tax bills in Shepway this year is 11% - slightly lower than the increase last year.

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