Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has called the action taken by the Welsh Government’s not to pass on £40m to local authorities to prevent council tax rises this year as ‘inexcusable’.
Mr. George spoke during a Welsh Conservative debate which called on the Welsh Government to implement a council tax freeze. The motion tabled by the Welsh Conservative group, expressed regret and disappointment that Welsh households have been denied assistance with daily living costs.
Yet in spite of the opposition debate, the Assembly voted not to implement a freeze in Wales, even though the UK Government provided Wales with £40m to allow councils to do just that. The Welsh Government has decided to spend the money elsewhere.
Across the border, additional funding from Westminster has provided English local authorities with the opportunity to keep council tax at its current level. Following the Welsh Government’s differing decision, only four councils here will implement a freeze and increases elsewhere will vary between one and 4.5 per cent.
Commenting Mr. George said:
“Council Tax is something that really matters to households across Wales. Yet, this Welsh Government somehow cannot accept or understand that fact.
“To refuse to pass on £40m of UK Government money to allow cash-strapped local authorities like Powys to freeze council tax is frankly inexcusable.”
“The Government should not underestimate the perceived consequences that their decision is having on doorsteps up and down Wales. Residents in Montgomeryshire are seeing what is happening in England and are wondering why they not being afforded the same assistance and why they are losing out.”
Last Thursday the Welsh Conservative group on Powys County Council voted to freeze council tax, but Liberal Democrat and Powys Independent Councillors voted to increase council tax by 2.25 per cent.
Councillor Aled Davies, Welsh Conservative Group leader on Powys County Council, said he was disappointed that Liberal Democrat and Powys Independent Councillors voted to increase council tax yet again and did not vote along with Welsh Conservative Councillors to freeze council tax this year. He said:
“Over the last few years the council tax increase in Powys has been greater than the Welsh average and it is time to call a halt.
“At a time when hard pressed families are struggling to make ends meet, with their pay frozen and energy costs shooting up, I am disappointed that Liberal Democrat and Powys Independent Councillors voted to increase council tax yet again and did not vote along with Welsh Conservative Councillors to freeze council tax this year.
“AllCouncillors should be bending over backwards to make sure there is no additional burden placed on Powys residents."
Newtown Councillor, Richard White, also expressed his anger at the Welsh Government’s decision. He added:
“It is very disappointing that it’s not a priority of this Government, in the current economic climate, to keep money in taxpayers’ pockets. While the saving may be modest, it’s a tangible return which hard-pressed families and pensioners do welcome and do appreciate.”