Lib Dems Propose Council Tax Freeze

4.35.00pm GMT Mon 15th Feb 2010

Bromley's Liberal Democrats, for the second year running, will propose a rise of 0% for this year's Council Tax, saying that in the current recession a Council Tax freeze would help all of the Borough's residents.

Proposing the amendment, Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr David McBride will say, "In times where many of our residents are facing financial difficulties at home or at work, the Council ought to be taking the lead. Over the last year or so Tory councillors have voted their leaders pay rises of over 20%, jetted off to Holland at taxpayers' expense and taken out hospitality at Beckenham Cricket," "Our budget would have frozen pay for councillors, reversed some of the massive increases for top Tories and scrapped some of the 'jobs for the boys' that exist for some councillors. In addition, we would have halved the money spent on food and drink at the Council and halved the ridiculous sum spent on advertising for new staff. It is typical of their mentality that these were not even looked at by the Tories," he added.

Deputy Leader Cllr Reg Adams added that, once again, the Council collected more money than was needed last year. "£300 000 was not used this year by the Council, despite being collected from our residents. We would not put it in the bank as proposed, but would use some of it to freeze Council Tax this year."