Local democracy and fairer taxes
Council Tax is very unfair in the way it falls proportionately most on people on the lowest incomes. So we are campaigning with Liberal Democrats nationally to get it replaced by a local income tax based actual income, and for a fairer share of the local business rate, which currently all goes to the Treasury.
Meanwhile we need to ensure that you get good local services from the council at as low a cost as possible. Each year we have reviewed all the council's budgets and found significant administrative savings which we have reinvested in the services and projects that the public tell us are their priorities. This has meant for instance that we were able to reduce the council tax by 1% in our first year, and that this year's increase of 4% is one of the lowest in the country.
However, perverse and unfair decisions by the Labour government mean there is a continuing risk that the annual grant may be cut by £2m. If that happens council tax may need to rise significantly just to maintain current services. Whatever happens we will consult with you on the right balance between cutting back on services that you consider less important and raising the tax to protect services that you see as a priority.
In 2003-4 we have
- launched the Area Committees, opening with a well used Open Forum for residents to raise local issues with councillors and council staff: attended by unparalleled numbers of members of the public.
- devolved grants for local environmental improvements and local community development, and devolved local planning decisions.
- sought to take party politics out of the appointment of Mayors of Cambridge
- started telephone registration of electors
In 2004-6 we will
- continue to support and develop devolved decision making
- launch internet registration for electors
- review decision making arrangements under the Council's new constitution
- continue to campaign for Local Income Tax to replace the unfair Council Tax system
- strive to maximise awareness and uptake of council tax benefit
- consult residents on spending priorities for the council's annual budgets
Published by Keith Edkins on
behalf of Cambridge Liberal Democrats, both of 4 Glisson Road, Cambridge, CB1
2HD
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