The Conservative Group proposed a reduction in the Borough Council Tax for 2006/07. Unfortunately the Labour, Independent and Liberal Democrat Councillors did not support this. 

 

Since the Borough Council Tax was introduced in 1993/94 it has increased by a massive 84%.  Inflation in that time has increased by just 36% so the Borough Council Tax has increased by more than twice the rate of inflation.  Because Council Tax rises have so outstripped the rise in pensions and wages, local people have become progressively poorer.

 

The main aim of the Conservative Group is to provide the services that matter to local residents as efficiently as possible whilst taking as little of their money as possible in Council Tax.

 

 

The Conservative Group proposed a grant of £2 per household to alleviate the unfairness of double taxation in the Parishes and Nantwich.  The Labour, Liberal Democrat and Independent Councillors voted against this proposal and the idea was squashed.

 

 

The Conservative Group proposed an extra £10,000 one-off grant for Nantwich CAB to keep it open.  The Labour and Independent Councillors voted against this but fortunately the votes of the Conservative, Nantwich Independent and Liberal Democrat Councillors were sufficient to allow the grant to go ahead.  We are pleased that Nantwich CAB will remain open and hope a long term solution to the CAB's financial problems can be found.  An annual round of financial fire fighting to keep the CAB open is to the advantage of nobody. It is certainly detrimental to the public that the CAB serves.

 

 

If we are to keep the Council Tax down in future years, further expenditure reductions and extra income will be required.  These will be in addition to the Gershon savings the Government have required Councils to make.  The areas of search we have identified are:-

(a)          We will examine all posts when they become vacant.  When it is decided to fill a vacancy we will only agree to external advertisement after internal transfer of existing staff has been fully explored.

(b)          We will put out to tender those services where costs are higher than the best local authorities.  Our aim will be to reduce costs whilst maintaining or improving services.

(c)          We will sell off surplus land, identified in the Open Space Review.  The capital receipt will be invested to obtain extra revenue.

(d)          We will scale down the Council's Capital Programme, which will result in extra investment income.

(e)          We will carry out a radical review of the Council's Community, Social and Cultural Development Programme to ensure it is run more effectively and efficiently and it delivers the improvements that are needed.

(f)            We would investigate the possibility of the Borough Council's Recreation facilities being managed by trusts with a view to maintaining and improving the service provided by these facilities at a lower cost to the local Council taxpayers.  Chester City Council, which is run by the Liberal Democrat and Labour Councillors, successfully adopted this approach to delivering recreation services several years ago.

 

 

Local residents want their Council services to be maintained and improved.  They want a Council Tax that is affordable.  The Conservative Budget 2006/07 met these demands and we are sorry that it did not find majority support.

 

February 2006