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Double standards (From Chorley Citizen)
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Double standards
5:00pm Wednesday 21st January 2009
Lindsay Hoyle MP calls for authorities to propose zero per cent increase in council tax.
It is incredulous with his government’s record on tax that he makes such a proposal especially in Chorley where the grant from his government after taking into account inflation is just 1.5 per cent. This when salaries and pensions alone are expected to increase by two per cent.
In Chorley since the Conservatives took power three years ago, services have improved and council tax has increased by two per cent on average.
In the last 10 years of Labour rule, rises totalled 86 per cent.
The MP claims rises can be kept low as councils have millions of pounds stashed away. This is not the case.
Funds which Chorley Council has invested are for future committed expenditure, for example, £4m for Buckshaw Village railway station.
Uncommitted reserves, currently around £1.5m, is set aside to cover unforeseen eventualities, such as the overspend on the concessionary travel scheme due to the government’s underfunding.
I eagerly await the Labour opposition’s alternative council budget to see how they can maintain front line services, and deliver a zero per cent increase without, as is the government’s want, dramatically reducing reserves or increase borrowing to be paid for later.
Alan Cullens Conservative Parliamentary Canddate for Chorley
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