Guildford Tories reject Lib Dem call for zero council tax rise

9.00.00am GMT Thu 22nd Feb 2007

Cllr Fiona White & Sue Doughty on the Guildford Civic site

In a heated debate at last night's Budget Meeting of Guildford Borough Council, the Conservative majority rejected the Lib Dem proposal for a zero council tax increase, and pushed through a rise of nearly 2%.

The Lib Dem proposal would have paid for starting a restoration programme for the High Street setts and for support for Guildford Action, both paid for by cutting council spin. The council tax increase could then have been cut to zero, paid for by the interest on money saved from the delay in reopening the Civic.

Proposing the Lib Dem amendment to the budget, Finance Spokesperson Cllr Vivienne Johnson explained "Over the time this administration has been in power, they have received over £2 million more in bank interest than was estimated. More than £½ m more each year. Each and every council taxpayer has paid over the odds for the privilege of building up reserves to pay for the replacement Civic Hall. Meanwhile they've been deprived of the facility, without being asked and without being told in advance. And they are not much nearer laying the first brick than they were when they came into office."

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Cllr Fiona White added "Four years ago the Conservative Group Leader told this council that if the Conservatives took control they would deliver a new Civic by 2007. But not only do we not have a new Civic, we don't even have the old one! Meanwhile residents complain all the time about the litter on the streets. The Conservative record in running Guildford is one of worsening services, broken promises and council tax increases."