22/02 /06-Lowest ever council tax set in Gloucestershire

The Lowest ever Council Tax was set today in Shire Hall. ( 22/02/06)

The top Conservative manifesto pledge was “Keeping tax down”.  In setting the lowest council tax increase ever set in Gloucestershire we have delivered on this promise in spectacular style – a massive difference from Labour and the Liberal Democrat’s 13% hikes.

Consultation with the Public

In the council’s consultation 84% of respondents said that they wanted a council tax increase of 3.5% or less. 

Government cuts hit Gloucestershire

-         Settlement The Government only put our settlement up by 2.2 % - less than the rate of inflation.  In real terms this is a cut of £250,000 this year.

-         TV disposal The European Union now classifies televisions as hazardous waste – which will cost Gloucestershire over £200,000 in the next financial year.  The Government has passed this cost on to Gloucestershire tax payers.

-         Supported borrowing Without any warning Labour has massively increased the cost of borrowing money for capital projects such as repairing roads and schools.  Where we used to pay around 5% interest we will now have to pay an effective interest rate of 20%.  This will cost Gloucestershire at least £1m this year.

-         Schools Funding Labour is still massively underfunding Gloucestershire’s school children.  This year we fell further still from being the 134^th best funded authority to being the 137^th best.  There are 150 education authorities in England.

Police Pledge

This budget includes the funding for the first tranche of Gloucestershire’s extra police officers on the beat.  Whilst Labour spend their time trying to undermine our police force, and calling for our police officers to be transferred to Bristol, local Conservatives are providing a real solution to crime – police officers on the beat across Gloucestershire.  By the 2009 there will be 63 extra officers across Gloucestershire distributed:

Cheltenham: 12

Cotswold :9

Forest of Dean: 9

Gloucester: 12

Stroud: 12

Tewkesbury:9