A the recent budget meeting held at Bootle Town Hall Cllr David Barton voted against the 5.99% rise.

Cllr Barton said...

Having continued to consult with local residents and businesses, I have carried forth their wishes and voted against this Year 2018's Sefton Budget, on the grounds that a 5.99% increase in Council Tax is neither in the best interest of the Local Community nor that of the Local Authority for the long- term.

If we are to truly incentivise and attract both incumbent and prospective growth in our local economy, there are far more accomplished ways of achieving a set Budget that can deliver for everyone, and indeed provide the much needed generated revenue for fundamental frontline Services such as Adult & Children's Social Care within our Borough.

Whilst there have been some admirable aspects put forward, such as an overall drive for the Local Authority to become more entrepreneurial in the future, these advantages have been outweighed in particular by the main singular disadvantage of this steep rise in Council Tax, which is just too much of a burden for many Constituents across our Coastal Seaside Town.

Once again the importance of operating on a mutual basis of respect and sincerity can clearly be demonstrated here, as by engaging with and earning the trust of key Stakeholders can and may yet hold the key to restoring our local economy in years to come, thus rendering the need for such precepts as this one to become obsolete altogether.

You can vote against it but the council is run by Labour.

Originally Posted by susanb

You can vote against it but the council is run by Labour.

Who's hands are tied by Tory/LibDem Austerity. Everrything appears to be Labours fault to the Brainwashed masses who believe everything a fibbing Tory tells them.

I don't mind paying a bit more if it means more Police on the streets, or if it means some helpless OAP can get some benefit out of it.

By the way as much as you and your ilk keep moaning about Labour isn't it hilarious that Tory Northampton Council is failing.
What this country needs is a strong minded Shepherd to keep you sheep penned up where you belong.

How does he suggest that his regeneration campaigns are funded in the face of government cuts? Money laundering perhaps?

Originally Posted by susanb

You can vote against it but the council is run by Labour.

Nowt to do with it being Labour... Tory-controlled councils are having to do exactly the same... Lancs just done it for instance, they simply don't have any other option.

If you want anyone to blame then look right at the Tory and Coalition Govt, they have pushed austerity cuts and spending from central govt and on to council tax-payers... just like over police cuts, billions lost then say to the police commissioners, oh if you don't want to lose anymore, you have to raise it from the council tax precept!

So thank your Lib-Dems and Tories while in govt' for this problem... absolutely nowt to do with Labour.

Originally Posted by Gwhizz

Nowt to do with it being Labour... Tory-controlled councils are having to do exactly the same... Lancs just done it for instance, they simply don't have any other option.

If you want anyone to blame then look right at the Tory and Coalition Govt, they have pushed austerity cuts and spending from central govt and on to council tax-payers... just like over police cuts, billions lost then say to the police commissioners, oh if you don't want to lose anymore, you have to raise it from the council tax precept!

So thank your Lib-Dems and Tories while in govt' for this problem... absolutely nowt to do with Labour.

Remind me again why we have Tory austerity, oh yeah, because Brown left the Country bankrupt.

As I've said before on this forum, I've no time for politicians of any colour but - hey - a politician that listens to and - votes according to his Constituent's wishes - now there is a novelty!

Originally Posted by roving-eye

... Once again the importance of operating on a mutual basis of respect and sincerity can clearly be demonstrated here, as by engaging with and earning the trust of key Stakeholders can and may yet hold the key to restoring our local economy in years to come, thus rendering the need for such precepts as this one to become obsolete altogether.

What, exactly, does that mean?

Originally Posted by Gwhizz

If you want anyone to blame then look right at the Tory and Coalition Govt ...

You appear to be forgetting that Council Tax rises were much smaller during the period of the Coalition government. It's only since 2015, and the present Tory Government, that Council Tax rises have gone through the roof.

Locally it's the Labour Party that imposed this year's 6% increase on us.

Of course he voted against it. He knew very well it would be passed regardless of whether he voted yes or no. By voting no he can try and pull the wool over people's eyes and say look how good a councillor I am 😏

Originally Posted by prasnee

What, exactly, does that mean?

How did you vote Councillor?

Originally Posted by justbecause

Remind me again why we have Tory austerity, oh yeah, because Brown left the Country bankrupt.

Who bankrupted the country? how about the banks and finance houses who quite happily declared debts as assets, until the cash ran out, then we found that all the huge profits and assets owned by the banks were just numbers on a screen, with the consistency of smoke.

Watched a Tory MP on politics today, declaring the council tax rises as a success, being part of the Tory plan to hand more control to local authority, what she should have said was that central government has taken away the funding while handing more bills to local authority.

She then blabbered on that Tory run authorities were more efficient than Labour authorities, totally oblivious when it was pointed out that across the country most councils have raised council tax by similar amounts, no comment on the reality that one Tory lead council has been declared unfit for purpose.

In principle I have no problem with local authorities running their own tax and spending, however in this regard shouldn't national taxation fall to accommodate the savings from payments to local authority? or is this no more than a major stealth tax which leaves central government saying that they haven't increased taxes, wash their hands of the real problems with a smirk and a "not me guv".

[QUOTE=justbecause;6631597]Remind me again why we have Tory austerity, oh yeah, because Brown left the Country bankrupt.[/QUOTE


Actually, it was because of a worldwide recession triggered by a crisis in the US sub-prime mortgage sector... hardly Labour's fault that they happened to be in power at the time.
Also, other nations that did not follow the severe austerity path we did have recovered far quicker.
Wages here are still on average lower than before the crash... even worse, the wealth gap widened so while a very lucky few very wealthy are now getting wealthier again, for very many more the situation is much worse... that's why so many families who are working now also have to use foodbanks. There's also been a massive increase in personal debt.

Lol listen to the re-writers of history on here.