COUNCIL TAX STING: Bromley Tory Tax rise is one of the biggest in London

6.47.41am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 30th Mar 2006

Council Tax in Conservative controlled Bromley Borough has risen this year by the second highest percentage in Outer London - according to official figures from the Association of London Government.

LiDem councillor JennyPowell said; "At the last Council Elections local Tories were boasting that they would freeze Council Tax. Instead they have massively increased Council Tax com- pared to other boroughs.

"In a year when the Council is due to receive a massive undisclosed payment for the multi storey car park from Tesco for their unwanted store this is nothing short of gross Tory Financial Incompetence.

"Graffiti and dumped rubbished isn't removed; Day care centres for the elderly are being closed; With the Youth Service, a decision taken a few years ago to take the cheapest option on offer now means that local residents have to pay extra to put things right.

"As for schools, the Government has finally run out of patience with Bromley Tories spending less on pupils than other London boroughs and have told them exactly what they must spend."