Council Tax 2
Conservatives Vote for Low Council Tax
After Labour giving the hard working residents of Swindon 42% increase in the three years before the Conservative group took full control of the council, for the second year in a row, we have set a low Council Tax increase, while increase service quality.
In our first year we were able to set an inflationary 3% increase foe 2005/2006. Hard to believe that both Labour and their 'spend, spend, spend' liberal chums both told the Conservative administration there was no waste, we've managed to find £7 million!
Not only have we only increased the council tax by just 3%, but also increased spending to Education and Social services by millions of pounds each.
In 2006/2007 we again aimed for a similar increase, however with the huge increase in gas and electicity prices combined with funding free bus travel for pensioners, we were able to increase it by 4.9%. Not as low as we had wished, but better than Labour's regular 15% from previous years.
This was on the back of the Conservative Administration launching the Swindon 2010 50 Promises and offering free green waste collection across the entire Borough.
Some History
In 2004, Labour with the help of the Liberals put forward their budget which made the total increase for the three years to 2004 42%!
In 2002, and 2003, Council Tax jumped by 15% each time under Labour. Following our gains of 6 new Councillor's in the May 2003 elections, we were able to launch a Budget Task Group which poured over the £180 million Council spending.
This Budget Task Group identified approximately £5 millions of savings, including the £2.5 million 'lost' in an old housing revenue account. The Budget Task Group also helped make sure the books balanced this year, and there wasn't a massive overspend which would have forced Council Tax up even further. Rather than supporting the excellent work of the Budget Task Group, the Labour and Liberal Councillor's have refused to take an active role, which is unacceptable.
The 2005/2006 Budget Task Group savings prevented a 3rd, 15% Labour Council Tax hike in a row. If we had not taken this tough line on spending, the facts are clear the 3rd, 15% hike would not have been avoided.
Again for 2006/2007, our rigorous analysis of the budgets stopped a 19% increase if we had sat on our hands and let everything continue without intervention.
It is only the Conservatives who are prepared to drive down Council Tax, and we will continue to focus on making sure our Council money is spent wisely.
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