02/02/05 - Conservatives Deliver On Council Tax

CONSERVATIVE ADMINISTRATION PROPOSE
3% COUNCIL TAX INCREASE AS PROMISED

 2005/6 council tax increases could be pegged at only 3%, Swindon Borough Council has just revealed. 

The proposal for the increase will be put to the cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening and if agreed will go forward to the full council meeting for a final decision on 21st February.

The proposal means that householders in an average band D property will see their council tax bill increase by £2.33 a month.

Mike Bawden leader of Swindon Borough Council said: “When we were preparing for last year’s elections, people made it very clear to us that they were fed up with big council tax rises.  We pledged to keep council tax low if we got into power.  We did and this proposal shows that we are delivering on our promises. “

A two-phase consultation also demonstrated that local residents wanted a low council tax rise.  In the latest survey, more than 50% of people said that they wanted to see an increase of 3% or less.

Mike Bawden was quick to thank people who had taken the time and trouble to give their views.  He said: “Setting the level for council tax is one of our hardest jobs.  It really helps us to know what local people think so I would like to offer my thanks to everyone who took part.  Their views have given us a wealth of data that we have been able to use to help us make difficult decisions.”

North Swindon Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Cllr Justin Tomlinson, "This is the first year the Conservatives have been in overall control in Swindon Council, and we made it a priority to drive down Council Tax.  After Labour's disgraceful 42% hike in just 3 years, local residents simply could not afford yet another hike.  We have worked tirelessly to tackle the endless waste in the Council, identifying over £9 million worth of efficiency savings, despite bitter opposition from the Labour & Liberal Councillors.  It is clearly only the Conservatives who will ever deliver on Council Tax."