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Welsh Conservatives today called for a cap on Council Tax rises for the 2014/15 financial year to prevent the Welsh Government’s local government cuts being passed on to hardworking families.

Labour’s budget deal with Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats agreed a cut of almost 6% to local authorities.

The Shadow Minister for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders, has previously urged local authorities to be smarter in their spending and to avoid the easy route of cutting frontline services or increasing Council Tax bills.

Last year, the Welsh Government stopped short of capping Council Tax rises, but warned local authorities not to put up bills by more than 5%.

Janet Finch-Saunders said, “Over the past three years, hardworking families in Wales have faced the highest Council Tax bills in the UK because Labour refused to pass on the Conservative Council Tax freeze.

“Carwyn Jones’ Labour Government opposed legislation to allow taxpayers local referendums on excessive Council Tax rises, so hard-pressed families have no protection from exorbitant hikes, which Conservatives have introduced in England.

“Without a freeze, local referendums or a cap on Council Tax bills, hardworking families could be hit hard following this challenging budget deal, which Labour, the nationalists and Lib Dems have dealt to Welsh councils.

“I fear that councils may see cutting vital services or increasing Council Tax bills as the soft option instead of opening up the books to the public, rooting out waste or delivering services more smartly to deliver value for money.

“The Welsh Labour Government should consider a cap on Council Tax hikes to shield hardworking people from the threat of mega Council Tax rises, on top of the doubling of Council Tax under Labour over the past decade.”

ENDS