Lib Dems set lowest Council Tax (Southampton Liberal Democrats)

Southampton Liberal Democrats <info@southampton-libdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems set lowest Council Tax

February 22, 2007 2:15 PM

Cllr Adrian Vinson - Council Leader

At just 3.3% Southampton's Lib Dem-led Council has set the lowest council tax increase since the city became a unitary authority. With Tory-led Hampshire opting for a massive 4.9% and Portsmouth on 4% the increase for Southampton's taxpayers will also be the lowest in the region. With pensions set to rise by 3.6% this will be especially good news for senior citizens.

Under the Lib Dems council tax has risen less in 4 years than Labour's whopping 18.6% in their last year in office. Over the same period the Lib Dems have found savings of around £24 millions to keep council tax down while protecting the most vital services such as social care and schools, and boosting spending on improving roads, pavements and street lighting and tackling anti-social behaviour.

This year, despite a £7 millions shortfall in Government funding yet again, the Lib Dems have found additional resources for:

roads and pavements
youth and play services
parenting skills
initiatives for older people.

The Lib Dems also found the money to withdraw savings (included in the budgets of all 3 political groups) which could have led to closure of Cobbett Road library and offer talks with users to minimise the impact of savings at Oaklands pool, which would have had to close under Labour's proposals. £150,000 has been found for improved community facilities at Lordshill, and £60,000 for traffic calming in Middle Road, Itchen.

Lib Dem Council Leader Adrian Vinson says: "Once again the Lib Dems have shown we can set a fair council tax by driving our efficiencies and making tough savings decisions while prioritising the services people tell us they care about most.

This is recognised by the independent local government watchdog, which has just awarded the Lib Dem run council 3 stars for our use of resources, describing us as 'a good council, improving well.'