Lib-Dem Response to Wokingham District Council Budget - Government Settlement (Wokingham Liberal Democrats)

Wokingham Liberal Democrats <info@wokinghamlibdems.org.uk>

Lib-Dem Response to Wokingham District Council Budget - Government Settlement

February 24, 2006 12:00 AM

Wokingham Liberal Democrats welcomed the fact that another generous Government settlement to Wokingham District Council has allowed the Council to set a moderate Council Tax increase of 2.94%.

Councillor Coling Lawley (Lib Dem Leader of the Wokingham District Council opposition) said, "For the third year in a row the Government has increased its settlement to us beyond our expectations. This year's grant amounts to an overall increase of £5,840,000; that's 6.5%. (Note to editor: These figures are based on the total grant, including education, and are therefore a direct comparison with previous years' figures - please see graph at end of release.)

"With such a generous settlement, you would have thought the Tories could do better than this lack-lustre budget. Like last year, it's hard to find any benefits in the Tory budget."

At last night's budget meeting at Wokingham District Council, Coling reminded council that the Liberal Democrats were still opposed to the Council Tax because it was an unfair tax. He said, "Although this is a modest tax increase, we must not forget that it will be a heavy burden on people with fixed or low incomes."