Uttlesford Council backs away from inflation-busting tax increase

10.35.00pm GMT Fri 5th Feb 2010

Following pressure from the opposition Liberal Democrat group, Conservative-led Uttlesford District Council has backed away from its plan for an inflation-busting 4.4% council tax increase. A 4.4% increase would have been one of the highest in Essex and a stark contrast to the 0% council tax increase pledged by Conservative leader David Cameron.

January's meeting of the Council's Finance and Administration Committee turned down a Liberal Democrat proposal to consider setting an increase in this year's council tax of 2% or less. The refusal followed a report that the Council made a surplus of at least one million pounds in the last year. Last week the Conservatives branded the Lib Dem proposal for a 2% increase as irresponsible; this week the Conservatives have climbed down and proposed a remarkably similar 2.9% increase.

Cllr Geoffrey Sell, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Stansted North and Finance Spokesman, said, "Many people in this area have been affected by the credit crunch and the recession. The Council should not demand tax increases that it clearly does not need."

Cllr Peter Wilcock, Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader, concluded: "I am pleased that the Conservative Council has taken up our proposal to share some of the Council's unbudgetted income with hard-pressed taxpayers."