Jason Smith, Chairman of Newcastle Conservatives, has today accused Liberal Democrats in Newcastle of failing to take the tough decisions to reduce council tax. On Wednesday 9 January, the city council’s Executive will discuss the council’s budget for 2008/09, which includes a plan to make almost £11million of efficiency savings, almost £2million in stealth taxes (such as increases in home care and meal charges for older people; increasing charges for community nurseries, car parking, registrars and planning services; and introducing transport charges for older residents) and over £1million of service reductions.

Newcastle City Council will collect over £94million in council tax in 2007/08 and, if the efficiency savings of £11million had been applied this year, Local Conservatives estimate that each Band D household would have paid £144 less in council tax.

Jason Smith said: “At the local elections in May, Conservatives pointed out that residents of Newcastle paid £150 more than neighbouring Sunderland and we pledged to reduce council tax by £200. Liberal Democrats claimed at the time that our figures didn’t add up, but they have now shown that Band D council tax in Newcastle could have been £1249.58 in 2007/08 if they had the courage to take the tough decisions.”

The Liberal Democrat budget plans will result in the loss of key services including reduction in library services, services to the elderly and loss of 6 community wardens.

Jason Smith added: “The city council spends approximately £150,000 per year on catering and hospitality and £850,000 on councillors’ expenses and allowances. Surely, councillors should be reducing payments to themselves before cutting services to our older residents. Liberal Democrats are planning to save money by attacking vital public services and increasing stealth charges.”

Tags: Council Tax Jason Smith