Lib Dems Cold Shouldered Over Plans to Freeze Council Tax (North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats)

North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats <bedford@bedfordlibdems.org>

Lib Dems Cold Shouldered Over Plans to Freeze Council Tax

July 26, 2002 12:00 AM

At Wednesday nights Executive committee (Wednesday 24 July) members of the Lib Dem group announced plans to use money recommended for release from council reserves to put a freeze on council tax and improve frontline services. However following a vote members of all other parties decided to ignore these plans.

The money was set to be released following Lib Dem recommendations that members of the Corporate and Resource Policy Review and Development committee review council reserves and identify any possible savings. The Corporate and Resource committee identified over £1.3 million that they recommended be released. However, the other parties on the executive did not agree to their release.

Speaking after the meeting Lib Dem Group Leader, Michael Headley commented:

"I am absolutely outraged that once again the other groups have stopped our plans to release money from councils reserves. The Lib Dems have been calling for some time to release council funds to provide better services to the people of the Borough. We also recommended freezing council tax for a year so that money could be given back to local taxpayers. The other groups had the option to support these plans and support the recommendations of the Corporate and Resources committee, instead they chose to do the exact opposite and continue to hold on to reserves earmarked for release."

He added:

"The other parties are full of talk about wanting to spend reserves but when we finally had the chance they chose the opposite. That money will now sit in council coffers when it should have been used to improve services. What will it take for them to see sense and release these funds for the benefit of the people of the borough instead of behaving like a king in his counting house!"