Tories deny broken promise over council tax rise (From Bury Times)

Tories deny broken promise over council tax rise

3:30pm Thursday 18th March 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share

A CLAIM that Bury Council’s ruling Conservative group broke a promise over its recent 3.75 per cent council tax bill rise has been denied.

Lib Dem councillor Richard Baum claimed the level of the increase went against the 2008-09 Bury Conservatives manifesto to keep council tax rises below inflation. And he wanted to know “why has this promise been broken?”

Last month, Bury Council had formally approved a 3.39 per cent rise to cover its own services but the amount came to 3.75 per cent when police and fire service charges were added.

At the full meeting of Bury Council, executive member for resource, Councillor Iain Gartside, stressed the Conservatives had kept their promise.

He said: “When the council approved the budget for 2010-11 and the council tax rise of 3.39 per cent, the rate of inflation stood at 3.5 per cent using the Consumer Price Index, 3.7 per cent using the Retail Price Index and 4.6 per cent using RPIX.

“Whichever measure is used, it is clear that the council tax rise was below the rate of inflation, as promised.”

• Print
• Email
• Share