Cheshire West & Chester Conservatives voted against the Labour Administration’s 2022/23 Budget last night, which, for the 7th year running, imposes the maximum Council Tax increase on residents.
Having presented an amendment that would see the increase minimised, Cllr Neil Sullivan, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, commented, “Again, Labour are applying the same old maxim - Tax to the Limit”.
Cllr Neil Sullivan stated he wanted to help hard pressed families, by keeping Council tax low.
“The Conservative Group have proposed changes to avoid 1% of Labour’s 1.99% council tax increase. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has also already announced funds to cut council tax by £150 for Bands A-D properties.”
Cllr Sullivan stated that he was saddened that Cheshire West Labour Cabinet continue to manage council finances poorly. “Continuing losses of £1.5m per annum on the Park & Ride service are indefensible and long-term deficits on Council companies Brio (Leisure ) and Vivo (Adult care) have heaped more pressure on CWaC finances, with no credible plan to improve performance”. On top of this Cllr Sullivan also pointed out that CWaC were facing a doubling of gas and electricity bills, because the Labour Cabinet did not fix energy contracts ahead, when prices were low.
He stated “Many other local authorities, such as Cheshire East, have avoided such a steep increase in energy costs. The expected increase is higher than the increase in Council Tax being imposed on our residents - it is simply poor financial stewardship”
Cllr Margaret Parker, Leader of the Conservative Group, highlighted the fact that the Council had received more than ample compensation for Covid costs, had increasing reserved, showed a surplus last year and had both increased core Government funding for 2022_23 and continued to receive sizeable, additional Government ring-fenced funds for specific projects like social housing and tackling domestic abuse.
Cllr Parker comments “The Council’s current financial position could create a nil increase in council tax to help our residents who are struggling, coming out of Covid, with high inflation rates and extortionate energy price increases. This budget is a ‘choice’ made by the controlling Labour Group."
Cllr Parker stated at Full Council “You (Labour Group) portray yourselves as the Party helping to stop poverty, well you are about to put some residents in our Borough into poverty with this unnecessary increase in tax”.
The Conservative Group repeat their disappointment that the Labour Administration voted their Budget and Council Tax rise through supported by the Green Party Councillor at the unnecessary expense of residents.
