County Council tax increase is the largest in the country!

10.14.11pm GMT Wed 10th Feb 2010

Research by the Liberal Democrats shows that of the 27 Conservative controlled County Councils who have published their proposed Council Tax increases, Northamptonshire County Council is the highest at 3.5%.

Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Cllr. Chris Stanbra said: "This just goes to show the financial incompetence of the Conservative Administration on the County Council. Since they took control of the council they kept the council tax increases artificially low. Now the reality of doing so has caught up with them and they are forced to go with the highest council tax rise of any county council. No other county council has proposed rises of 3.5% or more. The average is 2.06% across the country."

Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Kettering Chris Nelson said, "It is saddening that at a time when local families are struggling to make ends meet, years of bad planning at County Hall have forced such a big rise. What's more, with David Cameron and the Conservatives expected to make big cuts in grants to local councils if they win this year's General Election, I fear that council tax bills under Conservatives would only get higher in the years to come."

"Only the Liberal Democrats have revenue-neutral plans to cut tax for middle and low earners that would give every working couple a £1400 cut in their income tax," he added.

ENDS.