Welsh Conservatives will tomorrow renew calls for the Welsh Government to implement a council tax freeze. 

Following an opposition debate, the Assembly will vote on a decision not to implement a freeze in Wales, despite the UK Government’s contrasting provision for English householders. 

Across the border, additional funding 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. 

38.9 million pounds was passed to Wales from the UK Government to fund the implementation of a Welsh freeze. It was not used for this purpose. 

The motion tabled by the Welsh Conservative group will express regret and disappointment that Welsh households have been denied assistance with daily living costs. 

Shadow Minister for Local Government, Janet Finch-Saunders AM, said: 

"English householders will benefit from a council tax freeze in the coming financial year.　　　　

Scottish householders will benefit from a council tax freeze in the coming financial year.

For Welsh householders meanwhile, it’s the same old Labour hikes. 

"Since 1997 council tax has increased by almost 140 per cent in Wales. The dark days of Labour’s last disastrous re-banding are still fresh in the minds of thousands. The poorest were hit hardest back then and now Labour’s at it again. 

"Whatever the increase in each area affected, it’s too much. There should have been funding made available for a freeze and anything less is unfair and unnecessary. 

"This ruling places another big squeeze on the incomes of hard-pressed families and pensioners and it’s a direct result of the Welsh Labour government’s skewed decision-making. 

"During tough economic times it beggars belief that Welsh households have been denied invaluable assistance with daily living costs. Instead, the money has been spent on fresh attempts from Labour to be seen to be acting on the economy. 

"Welsh Conservatives believe this money would be far more beneficial in the pockets of householders the length and breadth of Wales."　

Notes: 

Motion tabled for debate is below. 

The National Assembly for Wales: 

• Welcomes the UK Government’s decision to allocate funding to provide English local authorities with the opportunity to freeze Council tax for the second successive year, and notes that approximately 90% of Councils in England will utilise these funds to ensure households benefit from no Council tax rise next year. 
• Notes the Scottish Government’s announcement that all local authorities in Scotland would be freezing Council tax for 2012/2013, and notes that the freeze began in 2008/2009. 
• Deeply regrets the Welsh Government’s failure to pass on the £38.9 million consequential funding to Welsh councils, denying 22 local authorities the opportunity to freeze council tax. 
• Further regrets that council tax in Wales is estimated to increase by nearly 2.2% on average over the next year. 
• Expresses disappointment that a majority of Welsh households have been denied assistance with daily living costs as a consequence of the Welsh Government’s failure to pass on the £38.9 million consequential funding to local authorities.