Conservatives Freeze Council Tax

Residents of Kingston will be £83 better off thanks to proposals put forward by the Conservatives. The Conservative led Coalition Government announced further funding to local authorities to freeze their Council Tax for a second year, saving residents across the borough £2.14m. However, the Lib Dem Executive Member for Finance Cllr Rolson Davies suggested at the October Full Council that“accepting the money would fall well short of being a good deal for residents.” Your local Conservatives moved swiftly to put forward a motion at the December Full Council which would call on the LibDem controlled council to accept the money and spare our residents anymore financial hardship in the coming year. Conservative Shadow Finance Member Cllr Priyen Patel said “residents of Kingston already pay the highest Council Tax in London and second highest in the country. This was an opportunity for the Lib Dems to grant residents a bit of breathing space and some much needed help in keeping more of their hard earned money in their pockets.” Conservative Shadow Member for Safeguarding Children Cllr Mike Burden went onto say that “the Lib Dem administration have a real opportunity to accept £2.14m from the Government. This would make a real difference to families across the borough who are experiencing rising food and energy costs – on the back of hiked parking charges in excess of 200% - levied by the Lib Dems.” After much deliberation and reluctance on the Lib Dem benches the Conservative motion was unanimously passed. Conservative Shadow Member for Healthy Living Cllr Eric Humphrey said “£2.14m is a substantial amount of money that would make a real difference to residents. Let’s hope the Lib Dems actually keep their word and are not looking gift horses in the mouth.”