Low Council Tax a Lib Dem priority

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 25th Jan 2008

Liberal Democrats will be looking to make savings through cutting out some of the millions that the Council wastes under Labour.

The Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council have outlined their commitment to slash increases in council tax. In response to 'The Sheffield Group', which includes Tory Cllr Anne Smith, Lib Dems have made the statement and highlighted the hypocrisy of the Conservative. In the previous two years Cllr Smith has proposed a council tax increase above inflation and actually voted against proposals from the Lib Dems that where well below inflation.

Lib Dems have highlighted the Council record which shows they are the party of low council tax in Sheffield. They believe that the council tax is the most regressive tax in operation in the UK, hitting the poorest hardest. Nationally they are committed to scrapping the tax, whilst in the meantime they are committed to keeping it down locally.

Liberal Democrats will be looking to make savings through cutting out some of the millions that the Council wastes under Labour. Through doing this Lib Dems aim to offer a lower council tax and more money for local peoples priorities across the city.

Cllr Andrew Sangar, Liberal Democrat Shadow Cabinet member for Finance said: -

"As always the Liberal Democrats in Sheffield will be working to slash the large council tax increases put forward by Labour by as much as possible. We recognise the unfairness of council tax and are committed to scrapping it nationally, in the meantime we aim to keep it as low as possible locally."

"The statement from 'The Sheffield Group' is interesting, we await to see their own proposal with interest. However, the record shows that the Tory Cllr Anne Smith votes against Lib Dem proposals for below inflation council tax increases. It also shows that Cllr Smith has consistently proposed increases that where well above inflation!"

"The record clearly shows that the Liberal Democrats are the ones who offer the lowest council tax. Through cutting out some of the millions wasted by Labour we aim to do the same this year, whilst still being able to provide extra for services and local peoples priorities right across the city."

See Council Tax record on Sheffield City Council: -

2007/08 Council Tax proposals by party

Labour - 3.90%

Green - 3.90%

Conservative - 2.90%

Inflation - 2.70%

Lib Dems - 1.96%

2006/07 Council Tax proposals by party

Labour - 4.65%

Conservative - 3.20%

Inflation - 2.30%

Lib Dems - 1.99%