Council tax hike condemned as Tories cancel ChristmasLabour councillors have denounced the Conservative cuts, waste and inefficiency behind Broxbourne Council's proposal to increase the council tax by 4.9 per cent. The plans are typified by cuts to festive lighting as the Tories stand prepared to cancel Christmas in town centres across the borough. Speaking in advance of the full council meeting, Labour opposition leader Cllr Alan McCole told us: "Even funding for festive lights is to be hit by a last-minute reduction. The Conservatives' willingness to cancel Christmas is just typical of the cuts, inefficiency and waste that are slowly ruining the council's reputation and blighting the borough in which we live. "Savage cuts and senseless waste stand to hit local taxpayers hard with yet another hefty tax rise. Even after a big grant increase from the government, the Tories plan to demand a rise of nearly 5 per cent from local residents. It's the biggest council tax increase the Conservatives reckon they can impose without being capped. "With increasing amounts of council tax going unpaid, it defies belief that money is to be diverted away from tax collection. Local democracy will also suffer as funding for voter registration is cut. "Recycling centres are being axed and rubbish sack deliveries cut back. Cuts in funding to tackle flytipping, dog fouling, littering and management of our parks will wipe out improvements to open spaces. "Instead of nurturing links with local schools, the Tories plan to axe the schools liaison budget. "At the same time, the council is pouring £400,000 down the drain on homeless hostels that are persistently three-quarters empty even as housing waiting lists grow. It is a crazy waste of taxpayers' money. "On cemeteries, I agree with the Conservative councillor who described the huge rise in burial fees as a burden on the living, a tax on the dead. "With the bus concessions budget, instead of cutting it by £125,000, we should be expanding bus services to provide pensioners with free direct bus links to all local hospitals, including Chase Farm, North Middlesex and Princess Alexandra. "I welcome the recent major investment to tackle problems on the Rosedale estate but this is only after years of neglect. Waltham Cross continues to suffer from the council with most regeneration funded by government or others. Money for CCTV in underpasses goes unspent while elderly pensioners continue to fall victim to purse snatching. To add insult to injury, the appalling Park Plaza printworks now looms over the entire town." Labour councillors voted against the council tax hike but were outnumbered as the Conservatives voted together to impose the increased charge from 1 April.
Labour gain an extra councillor as Tories and BNP fail |
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