Liberal Democrat petition victory

At a recent Cabinet Meeting, Cllr Ray Russell, Leader of Chesterfield Borough Council Liberal Democrats, made very clear that, at the Chesterfield Council Budget Meeting, the Liberal Democrat Group would be voting against the 3.5% Council Tax rise that the media recently reported that Labour is considering. Cllr Russell said: 'The Coalition Government has made extra money available to enable Councils to freeze Council Tax again this year - and the vast majority of Councils are taking this up to help the many families who are hard pressed in these difficult economic times'.

Chesterfield's Labour Council was considering refusing the grant and raising Chesterfield's Council Tax by 3.5% Liberal Democrats have opposed this and since Labour's announcement, local Liberal Democrats in Chesterfield have been collecting signatures on a petition opposing any Chesterfield Council Tax rise and will present this, with around a 1000 signatures, to the Borough Treasurer on the Tuesday before the Council Budget Meeting on Thursday March 1st. Cllr Russell continued: 'Labour say that any rise would only mean a small increase; this can only be seen therefore only be seen as political and cynical move.

The Liberal Democrat line is that no matter how small it is, together with other increases that families face such as on fuel and food bills when considered together they all make life just that bit more difficult for hard pressed families.

On hearing this week that the Controlling Group would be freezing Council Tax after all, Cllr. Russell continued: "It's a delight to hear that hard-pressed families will not now be subject to the unnecessary further taxation that was being considered by the Labour Party and we view this as a victory for the people of Chesterfield helped along by our prompt move to launch this petition across the Borough"