This year’s Council Tax rise proposed by Bolton’s Labour Council is an increase of 1.94% – marginally above the current rate of inflation.

In doing that, the Council will turn down the £1 million on offer from the Government if it had been frozen. At a time when times are hard for everybody due to the aftermath of the financial crash of 2008, most households did not need this extra cost.

I believe that it could have been frozen to help family budgets. Underspending by Council Departments this year has meant a saving of nearly £1 million. Add to that the various ‘reserves’ that are held, the £1 million extra the Government would have given us and the larger than expected receipts Bolton will get from the Manchester Airport and the sale of the Smithills Estate and I believe this increase is unnecessary.                         

Last year (when there were no elections) Council Tax went up by 3.9%. The two previous years (when there were elections) Council Tax was frozen. Are they related? or am I being too cynical?

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