Labour Ministers have presided over a 148 per cent rise in council tax since ‘97/’98 and are ‘monumentally wrong’ in their continued refusal to implement a freeze.
That’s according to Welsh Conservatives, who will today lead a debate calling on the Welsh Government to put taxpayers first and back down on its persistent refusal to utilise consequential funding, support local authorities, and deliver a Wales-wide council tax freeze.
The only communities in mainland Britain denied the chance to benefit from a country-wide freeze reside in Wales. The UK Government has provided support for local authorities to freeze council tax for three successive years, while in Scotland bills have been frozen since 2008/2009.
Under Labour, since 1997/1998, the people of Wales have suffered from crippling rises in their council tax bills. During that time, the average annual rate for a Band D dwelling has increased from £495 to £1,226 – a 148 per cent surge - with rates rising at a significantly higher rate than in neighbouring nations.
Only two local authorities in Wales have frozen council tax in Wales for 2013/2014 – Monmouthshire and Cardiff.
Shadow Minister for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders AM, will lead Wednesday’s debate in the National Assembly.
She said:
"Carwyn Jones’ government has got this monumentally wrong.
"It is unfair that Wales remains the only part of mainland Britain without a freeze and hypocritical of Labour to aim its sights at the UK Government when it is needlessly allowing tax hikes.
"More money in back pockets means a much greater chance of more money in local tills and – consequently – support for economic growth. Labour is too short-sighted to see the potential benefits and I urge ministers to reconsider.
"This month over one million workers in Wales started paying less in tax thanks to the UK Government’s increase in the personal allowance. 57,000 of the lowest earners were taken out of tax altogether.
"Labour ministers should learn from their UK counterparts and start using the economic levers at their disposal."
Notes to Editors:
Barnett consequentials for Wales – following the UK Government’s decision to support local authorities to freeze council tax in England – stands at almost 65 million pounds over three years.
Welsh Conservative motion for debate below:
The National Assembly for Wales:
- Notes that the UK Government has made support available to local authorities in England to freeze council tax for a third successive year.
- Further notes that the Scottish Government has made support available to local authorities in Scotland to freeze council tax for 2013/2014; and that such a freeze has been in place since 2008/2009.
- Believes local authorities have a moral imperative to spend public money with care and prudence; ensuring council tax rates are as low as possible for residents.
- Regrets the persistent refusal of the Welsh Government to utilise consequential funding to support local authorities to deliver a Wales-wide council tax freeze; placing communities at a disadvantage in comparison to those in England and Scotland.
- Further regrets that, since 1997/1998, council tax bills in Wales have increased by 148 per cent and believes such crippling rises have placed undue pressure on hard-pressed households.