Bedford Borough Lib Dems Announce Drive to Freeze Council Tax

Bedford Borough Lib Dems have announced that the Council is aiming for a council tax freeze next year. The announcement follows two years of below-inflation increases in Bedford Borough after the Council inherited the country's second highest level of County Council tax from the Conservative-run County Council in April 2009. It also comes after the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced today that the Government will work with Councils to deliver a Council tax freeze.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Bedford Borough Council Finance Portfolio Holder Cllr Michael Headley said: "We know that this is a difficult time financially for many residents and we have to do our bit to help. So we are committing ourselves to work for a council tax freeze next year. It is a challenging time for the council's finances with £10m of savings being sought for next year's budget. However, after years of high tax and poor services from the Tory run county council, it is time for residents to be given a better deal. We will work tirelessly to protect front line services and deliver efficient services for local residents."

The Government's emergency budget, published today, states that "The Government will work in partnership with local authorities to implement a freeze in council tax in England in 2011-12. The Government will clarify in due course the terms under which local authorities that commit to freeze or reduce their council tax will be compensated." Source (Budget 2010, page 53): http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/documents/digitalasset/dg_188581.pdf