Why the Conservatives hope the electorate will forget their past record on Council Tax

6.19.31pm GMT Thu 10th Dec 2009

• [Dec 08] Cllr Stephen Knight, Lib Dem Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, writes: "THE public will rightly be distrustful of the Conservative promise of no Council Tax rises. This flight of fancy should be juxtaposed with their actual record when last in power - a 30% hike in Council Tax, . .

. . the biggest ever increase in the borough's history. 

When the Tories last ran the Council they increased Council Tax by 15.6 % in their first year and by 30 % over the four years they were in office. By contrast, the Lib Dems have managed to increase investment in schools and other services, whilst keeping Council Tax rises down to the minimum. We are one of the most efficient councils in the country and have delivered around £11 million of efficiency savings since 2006 with more to come. However, the council's finances have been hit hard by the recession and we face a tough year ahead and the prospect of big funding cuts over the next few years.

No one can guarantee what the future will hold in these uncertain times and the Tories have no way of knowing how much Council Tax will be needed to support local services in the years ahead. The Lib Dems will always be honest with residents about how much Council Tax is needed to support local services and we challenge the Conservatives to do the same."