Lib Dem Council Costs You Less (West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats)

West Worcestershire Liberal Democrats <contact.us@westworcslibdems.org.uk>

Lib Dem Council Costs You Less

March 10, 2006 5:21 PM

Malvern Hills' Council Tax increase is among the lowest 10% in the UK!

The Malvern Hills District Council element of your Council Tax is going up by less than 2% - a standstill in real terms. Yet thanks to efficiency savings and a good level of grant (for once!) from the Government, there will be extra resources available for priority areas like recycling and community safety.

This puts the Malvern Hills Council Tax increase among the lowest 10% in the UK, and among the lowest (24th in 2004-2005) levels of Council Tax of the 238 District Councils nationwide. Yet we have still have one of the best customer satisfaction ratings in the country, indeed in a recent 'mystery shopper' survey, the Malvern Customer Contact Centre was rated number one. On pretty well every measure of performance, MHDC has shown startling progress since the Lib Dems were elected to control.

Lib Dems nevertheless see Council Tax as a grossly unfair form of taxation, bearing especially hard on vulnerable people like pensioners. We are concerned that because of the appallingly complex benefits system, many pensioners are missing out on Council Tax benefit, in fact as many as 40% of those eligible may not be getting the help to which they are entitled. As Lib Dem MP David Laws says, "The government either don't care or are too afraid to introduce real reform." One suspects the latter - they don't want to admit that the Lib Dem policy of a local tax based on the ability to pay is the answer.

Pensioners who think that, according to their circumstances, they may be eligible for a rebate for a part or all of their Council Tax should enquire to the Customer Contact Centre at the Library in Avenue Malvern Road Malvern or phone 01684 862151.