No Liberal Democrat-run council in England has raised Council Tax – Farron

Commenting on Labour and Conservative councils' record on Council Tax, Liberal Democrat Party President, Tim Farron said:

"While Labour and the Tories fight over how many of their councils raised Council Tax, it's clear that with the Liberal Democrats your money is safest: no Liberal Democrat-run council inEnglandhas raised Council Tax.

"This stands in stark contrast to Tory and Labour-run councils which have been racking up the Council Tax in these difficult times. Ordinary working families are struggling already with paying bills, without their councils increasing the burden.

"Liberal Democrat councils have not only frozen council tax but are also most likely to be giving the lowest-paid council workers a pay rise.

"This comes on top of Liberal Democrat achievements in the Budget, which increased the number of people lifted out of tax to over a million and gave nearly 25m people a £130 tax cut this year."

Notes:

1. An overview of the top 20 Council Tax increases, as compiled by the Local Government Chronicle:
   
   

2. All Liberal Democrat Councils in England have frozen their Council Tax and have still managed to:
   
   - According to the Local Government Chronicle, Liberal Democrat run councils were more than twice as likely to give the lowest paid workers a pay rise compared to Labour, and five times more likely than Conservative run councils.
3. 
   - Lib Dem-run Bristol City Council has created 3,000 new jobs, mostly in environmental enterprise with plans for 95,000 new jobs by 2030
4. 
   - Birmingham Liberal Democrats have aided the airport expansion, creating 2,000 new jobs
5. 
   - South Lakeland Liberal Democrat councillors have helped bring in a big boost with development from GSK
6. 
   - In Stockport, Liberal Democrats have overseen an 11% increase in the number of new Business Start-ups - the highest of anywhere in the North West
   
   
7. Please find a few examples of Labour Councils record of wasteful spending:
   
   - In September Labour-run Southwark unveiled plans to spend £120,000 creating an executive wine terrace at its Tooley Street headquarters. http://bit.ly/HLNIFs
   
   - Labour in Durham spent more than £5000 on a bus stop that hadn't been used in 2 years - 'The bus stop to nowhere' http://bit.ly/HYVWr6
   
   - Labour councillors in Haringey propose to spend over £1m on a fund that has no agreed plan or purpose and has the name of the party's election manifesto, 'One Borough, One Future fund' to promote political aims and pay for Labour pet projects. http://bit.ly/HC4xhG

4. Please find a few examples of Conservative Councils record of wasteful spending:
   
   - Tory Cambridgeshire County Council put up councillor allowances by 19% whilst cutting services and increasing council tax. http://tgr.ph/IXPfaJ
   
   - Tory Hammersmith and Fulham Council threw a £7,000 party for their departing £200,000 a year Chief Executive whilst cutting services. http://bit.ly/JoNEWp
   
   - At Bognor Town Council the Conservative authority says it needs a 3.5% Council Tax increase, whileinsisting the council continues to financially support the annual clown convention. http://bit.ly/HNAQPr
   
   - Seaford Town Council agreed to raise its Council Tax by 9.5%. Cllr Sam Adeniji said the £10,000 from the tax rise would go towards a celebration for the Queen's jubilee. http://bit.ly/HNAQPr