CONSERVATIVES PROPOSE 3% REDUCTION IN COUNCIL TAX FOR IPSWICH RESIDENTS
Ipswich Conservative Group propose a 3% reduction in Council Tax for local residents, and have made recommendations for a £384,750 reduction in the 2012/13 budget to deliver the required savings.
Conservative Leader, Cllr. John Carnall, has put forward an amendment to the budget to be debated at Full Council next Wednesday, 29th February.
“We left the new Labour administration a golden legacy of significantly increased reserves, and reduced debt, and there is ample scope to reduce Council Tax, helping local residents with their budgeting when many people are finding it difficult to make ends meet,” he says.
“Whilst Labour are freezing Council Tax, made possible by a Government grant, they are increasing Fees and Charges by 3%, which is above their own estimate of inflation, as well as increasing council house rents by 5.6%, which is well ahead of inflation. At the same time, they are penalising the voluntary sector by increasing rents by up to 1600%.”
The Conservative savings proposed are as follows:
Reduce senior management costs £125,000
Transfer HEARS service to SCC £ 25,000
Withdraw interest free period granted to
Ipswich Town Football Club £ 17,000
Reduce allowances paid to Area Committee Chairmen £ 15,000
Increase General Fund Revenue Balance £ 22,250
And delete Labour’s following proposals for additional expenditure:
Equalities Project Officer £ 25,000
External Funding Officer £ 60,000
Support to Public Transport £140,000
TOTAL £384,750
For further comment contact:
Cllr. John Carnall 01473 717475
Conservative Group Leader, Ipswich Borough Council