Press Release 26th January - Lib Dems call on Chesterfield Borough Council to freeze Council Tax
Paul Holmes, Leader of 17 Liberal Democrat Cllrs says "Although Covid is easing, residents face a very difficult year with huge energy price increases, rising tax and rising inflation. Labour politicians are always calling on the Government to do something about this."
"Now they can put their money, or rather taxpayer's money, where their mouth is. They can actually do something instead of just trying to pass the buck to others all the time."
"A standard 1.99% Council Tax increase would raise just under £100,000 extra for Chesterfield Borough Council. Freezing Council Tax instead, plus scrapping the above inflation £143,000 increase in Car Park charges, would be a real boost for hard pressed local residents. So here is the challenge to Labour Cllrs. Do something practical instead of just blaming everybody else."
"The unexpectedly generous Government Settlement for Local Government (Dec 16th 2021) for the financial year 2022/3 saw CBC being given an unexpected £1.37Million extra. Freezing Council Tax and car park charges entirely would still leave CBC with an unexpected windfall of over £1.1Million."
"Mansfield, a slightly smaller council than Chesterfield, was given an unexpected £400,000 extra by the Government. The Labour leader of Mansfield Council has already announced that he will therefore cancel their expected Council Tax increase. Chesterfield should do the same."
"Doubtless Chesterfield Town Hall bosses will say that they need the money to help cover their predicted overspends for each of the next few years. Their first thought should be to get a grip of their overspending and not to just constantly dip their hands into local resident's pockets. Especially when residents face such a huge cost of living increase this year."