I believe Manchester residents should not have to worry about a rise in their Council Tax next year whilst we continue to fight the effects of the recession in the city.
Tomorrow the City Council has the chance to confirm a report from the City Treasurer that sets out a proposal for a freeze in the level of the Council Tax for the 2010/11 financial year starting next April. I know my Liberal Democrat colleagues from across the city will be strongly supporting an approach that will not see the Council Tax in Manchester rise next year. If the Council Tax can be brought down a bit to help Manchester residents through the recession, as we proposed earlier this year, that would be even better.
Simon Wheale, Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesperson , has said "This proposal is a victory for common sense following a year long campaign by Manchester's Liberal Democrats to stop the city's Council Tax rising during the recession. City Council finances have benefitted this year from lower interest rates and better prices on overhead costs. It is important that these savings stop Council Tax bills from rising for Manchester people. Knowing that there will be a freeze in the Council Tax level next year will mean one less thing for Manchester residents to worry about when personal and family budgets are stretched."
Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Manchester Councillor Simon Ashley commented "Britain is the only one of the G20 economies still in recession. Liberal Democrats have argued nationally that the income tax threshold should be raised to make the tax system fairer at this testing time. Not raising the Council Tax in Manchester, as Manchester Liberal Democrats have campaigned for all year, represents a fairer deal for our residents and we will campaign now to see it implemented."
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