The rise was totally unnecessary, as it was clear it was going straight into already adequate reserves and not into services. The increase of 1.99% will raise £98,000 for the authority and add £3.60 to the Council Tax of a Band D property but will sacrifice a government grant of £49,000, which would have kept the rise on your bill at 0%.
NEDDC is not a “cash strapped” authority and the Conservative alternative budget calculations show that the authority could comfortably find the other £49,000 to boost reserves if necessary.
Ironically Labour parish and town councillors, such as the Clay Cross members, waxed lyrical about protecting local taxpayers by not raising parish or town precepts but then voted for an unnecessary district increase. And for hard-pressed council house tenants this is on top of an average rent increase of 5.95% also agreed by Labour at NEDDC.
The Conservative Group tabled a proposal that council tax be frozen for the next financial year and the government grant be accepted. The proposal was voted down by the Labour group. The Conservatives voted against the whole raft of measures including increasing council rents. The Labour administration has shown little imagination when it comes to saving money and keeping bills lower for NEDDC residents.
Where rents are concerned there is local discretion and we believe that by better use of resources those rent rises could have been lower.
Labour has piled on the pressure of financial burden on hard working families in North East Derbyshire. At a time of economic hardship it would seem strange that Labour would vote for an increase in Council Tax. The Conservative Group has shown how savings could have been made including slashing the budget on items such as twinning expenses of over £10,000 and a tea trolley service costing over £21,000. In addition to a Government grant for local authorities, this Council Tax rise is totally unnecessary.
If Labour had been in control at County Hall they made it clear they would also have increased the precept and that would have had 10 times the impact of the proposed NEDDC increase.
Had Derbyshire Labour at County Hall been in control and done as they suggested at the last Full Council meeting then there would have been an additional £21 per year added to a Band D property. Bringing the total to almost £28!
It is clear, if you don't want higher taxes and tax and spend policies inflicted upon you then vote Conservative on May 2nd.
By: Barry Lewis