Urgent action needed now in Chesterfield to stop Labour’s Council Tax rip-off !!

Proposals by Labour run Chesterfield Borough Council to raise Council Tax this year have been slammed by local Liberal Democrat Prespective Parliamentary Candidate and campaigner Julia Cambridge.

Julia said "The Labour run Council are consulting on proposals which include a 2% or even 3.6% Council Tax rise. A loophole in the rules would seem to let them sneak this through without needing a referendum, which they know they would lose. Chesterfield residents made their views clear when Labour attempted the same thing last year.

"We are launching a petition against a Council Tax rise and are urging local residents to sign it."

The petition has been jointly launched by Chesterfield Lib Dem Prospective Parliamentary Candidate Julia Cambridge and leader of Chesterfield Lib Dem Councillors, Ray Russell.

Julia Cambridge added "The government is offering the Council funding so that it can freeze Council Tax again this year. Labour's plans would mean rejecting that money and inflicting needless tax rises on hard-working people in Chesterfield. The very people who are already suffering because of the recession left by the last Labour government!

"We will be delivering petition forms to thousands of residents in Chesterfield and people can also sign online at our website. Together local people can force Labour to drop its proposed Council Tax rises."

Cllr Ray Russell condemned Labour's proposals saying "Last year Labour tried to unnecessarily put up Council Tax and fortunately the huge opposition from local people forced them to drop their plans. Labour councillors clearly have learnt nothing, as they are at it again proposing another Council Tax increase for local people.

"If Labour raised Council Tax by 2% it would bring in £76,000. But by extending the award winning contract with ARVATO, negotiated by the previous Lib Dem Council, they would save £100,000 - and the Council would get around £40,000 Council Tax grant from the government too!

"Labour's outdated thinking means they would prefer to raise ordinary people's Council Tax instead of these alternative painless ways of raising £140,000".

People can sign the petition online accessible from the front page of the local party's website at www.chesterfieldlibdems.org.uk

Notes;

The award winning partnership the Liberal Democrat's negotiated with ARVATO provides Council back office services whilst saving the taxpayer £400,000 a year. (Equal to 10% on Council Tax).

It also guarantees jobs for ten years, which no Council in the country can do anymore, and it has brought in new jobs on top of that.

The second stage of this partnership would save another £100,000 of local people's money. But Labour refuse point-blank to consider this preferring to put people's tax up despite the recession.