- Conservative-run West Berkshire Council has given residents a real terms cut of 5.06% this year.
- In the same year, Labour-run Slough has put up their Council Tax by 10%, and Liberal Democrat-controlled Newbury and Thatcham Town Councils have put theirs up by 6.4% and 9.75% respectively.
- Nationally, analysis has found Conservative-run councils charge an average of £21 less than those run by the Liberal Democrats for a Band D home.
An analysis of official statistics has found that Conservative councils charge on average £80 a year less council tax than Labour for the average home and £21 less than those run by the Liberal Democrats for a Band D home.
The analysis comes just over a month before local elections on May 4, when 230 councils are up for election, including the District Council, as well as all Towns, and Parishes here in West Berkshire.
Averaged across tiers, Conservative-run councils charge £80 a year less than Labour-run councils on a Band D home, and £21 less than Lib Dems, according to the analysis.
Commenting, Cllr Lynne Doherty, Leader of West Berkshire Council, said:
Last year West Berkshire Council were found to provide the best services of any council in the country, today’s news shows that we do this without raiding taxpayers like Liberal Democrat or Labour councils do.
Across Berkshire, we have seen this first hand. Slough has put up their Council Tax by 10% due to years of Labour’s financial mismanagement, and even here in West Berkshire, we have seen Liberal Democrat controlled Newbury and Thatcham Town Councils put their Council’s Tax up by 6.4% and 9.75% respectively, compared to our 4.99%.
The average cost for a standard Band D property is now £2,065, £300 more than West Berkshire residents face, thanks to the fiscal responsibility of the Conservatives in the past 18 years.
Commenting, Greg Hands MP, Chairman of the Conservative Party, said:
“The results are in. Conservatives charge less than Labour on average for Council Tax band for band.”
“Up and down the country, it’s Conservative councillors and councils who have a proven record of managing taxpayers’ money wisely and providing better local services.”
“Labour and Liberal Democrats cannot be trusted to focus on the job and on delivering on the services that matter most to you and your family.”
