We are very busy in the Council working on next years Council Tax rates. As Conservatives we aim to deliver low and affordable Council Tax which is in stark contrast to when Labour ran the Council where they hammered us all with a wallet busting 42% hike in just 3 years.
Each year the Government increases funding for Swindon Council, though well below our increases in costs. Last year they increased funding by approx 2%, far less than the increases in costs for example pay increases (set by the Government), contract inflation and extra services / targets passed on from the Government - meaning we had to raise approx. £8m just to stand. We are one of the worst funded Councils in the UK, something we have repeatadly asked the MP's to address.
Despite this we have continued to deliver a Council Tax inline with inflation by cutting out waste and ineffeciency within the Council, increasing revenue opportunites (for example improving our leisure centres which inturn has seen an increase in usage and income) and planning major projects carefully (for example delivering the new central library on time and on budget).
A Conservative Government would freeze Council Tax. With the economy in free fall and cost of living rocketing I am sure this will prove a popular move.