THE GOVERNMENT’S autumn statement didn’t do enough to help councils cope with rising inflation, and should instead be ensuring Wokingham is funded ‘properly’.
On Thursday, November 17, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that councils could increase council tax by up to 5% without calling a local referendum.
But Wokingham Borough Council leader Cllr Clive Jones felt this was the wrong approach.
“The government should fund Wokingham properly, we have been starved of cash for eight years under the Conservatives,” he said.
“We receive £24 million a year less than the average local authority. We wouldn’t have a deficit, we would be able to spend it on things like repairing roads and potholes, and on adult social care.”
And with the chancellor’s announcement on lifting the cap on council tax rises, coupled with increases in inflation and the deficit in the council’s finances, Cllr Jones felt unable to say what would be landing on residents’ doormats next April.
“I cannot give anyone any reassurance that there will be no increase in council tax, not when inflation is at 11.1%,” he said.
“Costs are going up for everybody, they’re going up for me, and they’re going up for the council, and it’s not being sorted by the government.
“They are simply not giving us money, instead they are telling us we can take it off residents. They are shifting responsibility – it’s a cruel trick.”
He said at the council meeting, also held on November 17, Conservative councillors were “shouting out” about increasing council tax.
“Clearly, they are happy for us to put it up,” he said.
