CONSERVATIVES CAMPAIGN FOR BETTER FUNDING FOR SOMERSET (01/02/02)

Leader of the Conservative group, John Smeaton said, ‘It is vital that all political parties at Somerset County Council, lobby parliament in unison, as have our MPs, to show that we will not tolerate continued under-funding. This Labour government has, time and again, passed responsibilities to local government without the funding to carry out those responsibilities. This year’s Settlement from Government follows that pattern. Any need for an increase in local taxation is due entirely to this underfunding which is to enable Labour to pretend that they have not increased taxes. Increased Council Tax is as much a Tony Tax as increasing Income Tax.

‘In the meantime we must ensure that the money we are given is spent wisely. County Councils should not have to decide between service cuts and council tax rises but we should be clear that we are not diverting scarce resources into unnecessary areas just because they are “politically correct”.

‘It is the Conservative group’s aim to hold the Liberal Democrat administration to account and ensure that the very best services are maintained in Somerset, without placing the bill on the doorstep of the electorate.’

Conservative spokesman for Finance, Colin Hill added, ‘It is our duty, as the opposition party, to ensure Council Tax is not allowed to soar. We will work with the Liberal Democrats to ensure the financial burden of Blair’s stealth tax is managed rather than added to the council Tax bill.’