Council divided over 20 per cent tax rise
Wednesday, 17th February 2010.
Haverhill Town Council divided on political lines last night over the setting of its budget for the next financial year and the resulting level of council tax.
The Labour group refused to support the Conservative majority's proposal of an increase of around 20 per cent, saying it would seriously affect many town residents who were struggling financially.
The town council's element of council tax is only a relatively small percentage of the whole bill, but the decision came in the wake of very tight budgets from the borough and county councils, of around two per cent increases.
Labour group leader Cllr Maureen Byrne said: "We feel it is not the time to put more costs on residents. We have many families in the town who are only just keeping their heads above water.
"This increase will make our charge nearly as high as the borough's."
But Cllr Margaret Marks said: "We are going to have to pay for services which are being retracted from the borough and county councils.
"There will only be a small margin of people who are seriously affected and they may benefit hugely from what we do with the money."
The initial proposal of a band D levy of £91.21, compared with last year's of £75.50, was reduced when members decided not to spend £12,000 on a CCTV camera for the recreation ground toilets, bringing the levy down to £89.72.
The Labour group refused to support the Conservative majority's proposal of an increase of around 20 per cent, saying it would seriously affect many town residents who were struggling financially.
The town council's element of council tax is only a relatively small percentage of the whole bill, but the decision came in the wake of very tight budgets from the borough and county councils, of around two per cent increases.
Labour group leader Cllr Maureen Byrne said: "We feel it is not the time to put more costs on residents. We have many families in the town who are only just keeping their heads above water.
"This increase will make our charge nearly as high as the borough's."
But Cllr Margaret Marks said: "We are going to have to pay for services which are being retracted from the borough and county councils.
"There will only be a small margin of people who are seriously affected and they may benefit hugely from what we do with the money."
The initial proposal of a band D levy of £91.21, compared with last year's of £75.50, was reduced when members decided not to spend £12,000 on a CCTV camera for the recreation ground toilets, bringing the levy down to £89.72.
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