31 January 2012
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP for The Cotswolds, spoke out in Parliament yesterday (30 January) about the decision by Cirencester Town Council to increase their Council Tax precept, the Council's share of Council Tax, by 4.7% in the coming year and the proposal by the Gloucestershire Branch Police Superintendents' Association for the Gloucestershire Police Authority increase their precept by 2.9%.
Mr Clifton-Brown raised the issue during questions to Department of Communities and Local Government Ministers. Mr Clifton-Brown made the point that it was unfair for the Town Council to introduce such a rise when the local District and County Councils are making the tough decision to freeze the overall Council Tax. During the question time Mr Clifton-Brown asked:
"Will my hon. Friend see what can be done to ensure that all precepting authorities keep their increases to a minimum?"
To which the Andrew Stunell, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, responded:
"The Secretary of State has made the Government's point of view clear. He believes-and I believe-that local authorities and precepting authorities should behave with responsibility in these difficult times. I am sure that his words will have been heard, and I am happy to underline them from the Dispatch Box."
Following the event Mr Clifton-Brown said: "I entirely agree with the Minister's opinion that precepting authorities should behave responsibly in these hard times."
"In my view, it is entirely unfair that, when Gloucestershire County Council and Cotswold District Council are working very hard to freeze the Council Tax for people in the Cotswolds, Cirencester Town Council should be increasing their share of that Council Tax by 4.7% and that the Gloucestershire Branch Police Superintendents' Association should be requesting a 2.9% precept increase by the Gloucestershire Police Authority."
"As a result of this I have written to Andrew Tubb, Chief Executive of Cirencester Town Council, to remind him of his responsibility to Council Taxpayers and to impress upon him the need to act with restraint when it comes to spending whilst the County and District Councils are implementing tough savings programmes."
"In addition, I have written to Councillor Rob Garnham, Chairman of Gloucestershire Police Authority, to ensure he is aware of the Government's belief that precepting authorities should act with responsibility at this time."
FULL TEXT:
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Cotswolds) (Con): Those on low incomes in Cirencester are suffering a double whammy. Their town council is increasing its precept by 4.7% and the police are increasing their precept by 2.9%, at a time when the district and county councils are making the tough decision to freeze council tax. Will my hon. Friend see what can be done to ensure that all precepting authorities keep their increases to a minimum?
Andrew Stunell: The Secretary of State has made the Government’s point of view clear. He believes—and I believe—that local authorities and precepting authorities should behave with responsibility in these difficult times. I am sure that his words will have been heard, and I am happy to underline them from the Dispatch Box.
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Mr Clifton-Brown raised the issue during questions to Department of Communities and Local Government Ministers. Mr Clifton-Brown made the point that it was unfair for the Town Council to introduce such a rise when the local District and County Councils are making the tough decision to freeze the overall Council Tax. During the question time Mr Clifton-Brown asked:
"Will my hon. Friend see what can be done to ensure that all precepting authorities keep their increases to a minimum?"
To which the Andrew Stunell, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, responded:
"The Secretary of State has made the Government's point of view clear. He believes-and I believe-that local authorities and precepting authorities should behave with responsibility in these difficult times. I am sure that his words will have been heard, and I am happy to underline them from the Dispatch Box."
Following the event Mr Clifton-Brown said: "I entirely agree with the Minister's opinion that precepting authorities should behave responsibly in these hard times."
"In my view, it is entirely unfair that, when Gloucestershire County Council and Cotswold District Council are working very hard to freeze the Council Tax for people in the Cotswolds, Cirencester Town Council should be increasing their share of that Council Tax by 4.7% and that the Gloucestershire Branch Police Superintendents' Association should be requesting a 2.9% precept increase by the Gloucestershire Police Authority."
"As a result of this I have written to Andrew Tubb, Chief Executive of Cirencester Town Council, to remind him of his responsibility to Council Taxpayers and to impress upon him the need to act with restraint when it comes to spending whilst the County and District Councils are implementing tough savings programmes."
"In addition, I have written to Councillor Rob Garnham, Chairman of Gloucestershire Police Authority, to ensure he is aware of the Government's belief that precepting authorities should act with responsibility at this time."
FULL TEXT:
Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (The Cotswolds) (Con): Those on low incomes in Cirencester are suffering a double whammy. Their town council is increasing its precept by 4.7% and the police are increasing their precept by 2.9%, at a time when the district and county councils are making the tough decision to freeze council tax. Will my hon. Friend see what can be done to ensure that all precepting authorities keep their increases to a minimum?
Andrew Stunell: The Secretary of State has made the Government’s point of view clear. He believes—and I believe—that local authorities and precepting authorities should behave with responsibility in these difficult times. I am sure that his words will have been heard, and I am happy to underline them from the Dispatch Box.
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