Lib Dems propose nil increase in council tax (Southwark Liberal Democrats)

Southwark Liberal Democrats <info@southwark-libdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems propose nil increase in council tax

February 15, 2006 11:45 AM

Southwark Council Liberal Democrat Group 2002

Councillor Nick Stanton and Southwark's Lib Dem councillors have kept council tax rises down since they were elected to run the council in 2002

Southwark's Liberal Democrat Executive is proposing to freeze Southwark's element of the council tax with no impact on frontline services, following significant improvements in the council's financial management.

If agreed by Council Assembly, the zero per cent increase would mean that Southwark's council tax will have increased by just four per cent during the four years the Liberal Democrats have been running the council. This is significantly less than the average London increase and less than the thirteen per cent increase imposed by the last Labour administration.

The move is in stark contrast to Ken Livingstone's Greater London Authority (GLA) tax rise, which has hit Southwark residents with a massive 135% increase since he came to power.

Commenting, Cllr Lorraine Zuleta, Liberal Democrat Executive Member for Resources, said: Once again the Liberal Democrats are pushing to keep council tax low without hitting front line services. Under Labour, Southwark's finances were in a mess and it has taken strong financial management and real commitment to reducing debt and inefficiency across the council.

"Council tax is extremely unfair and continues to hit the poorest hardest, especially pensioners. We are determined not to add to that burden and the Liberal Democrats will continue to campaign for a fairer system of local taxation."