One announcement made at Conference which I haven’t referred to in detail on this blog yet is George Osborne’s welcome announcement that the next Conservative Government would provide money to allow local Councils to freeze their Council Tax for a minimum of two years:
George Osborne has announced a two-year freeze in council tax in order to help families cope with the rising cost of living. This measure will save a typical Band D household over £200, and millions of families will benefit.
The Shadow Chancellor promised, “Every council tax bill of every family in every council that takes part will be frozen”
This is very welcome news for local residents across the country, including here in Salford, who have seen their Council Tax bills rocket under Labour.
I am however a little perplexed at the reaction of some Labour and Liberal Democrat run authorities. In London, they have pledged not to play ball. I don’t yet know what Salford’s Labour leadership think. Doubtless local residents in those Council areas will be delighted with what is effectively a promise to hike Council Tax even further!
Any Council leaders squealing that they can’t afford the efficiencies required is playing politics. Councils already have to sign up to centrally-administered efficiency drive - they’re referred to as Gershon savings after the review written by Sir Peter Gershon. Sadly the Gershon efficiency drive merely encourages paper savings which have no impact on the bottom line for the Council taxpayer - a favourite wheeze is to abolish job roles which were going unfilled anyway.
Osborne’s new announcement will make sure that our wasteful Labour Councils make real inroads into waste and inefficiency rather than being allowed to project a false image of doing so. That can only be a good thing for local residents and Council Taxpayers.
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