Lib Dems fight for council tax freeze in Islington

11.06.00am GMT Mon 23rd Feb 2009

The Liberal Democrats are fighting to keep the council tax down in Islington, against Labour's spendthrift and wasteful plans. The Lib Dems will be proposing a freeze on council tax at the meeting of Full Council this week.

Lib Dem council finance chief John Gilbert writes:

"The issue around the level of council tax in Islington should not be about which party will get its plans through. The right thing to do for Islington residents in these extraordinary times we find ourselves in should be what matters.

"We are in a deep recession. People are struggling to make ends meet. People are losing their jobs. And things are likely to get worse before.

"That´s why Liberal Democrats believe that with this dire economic background the council should be on residents´ side and do all it can to help. The main thing we can do is keep the council tax as low as possible as we have done every year since we took control of the council. This year in particular Liberal Democrats believe that the council should not impose a council tax rise on people.

"This is only possible because of the Liberal Democrats´prudent management of the council´s finances. But we will also maintain all our frontline services that residents want - school improvements, better street cleaning, better parks and community safety - by finding £10 million of efficiency savings.

"Labour´s plans sound superficially attractive. But Labour cannot or will not give answers to the following:

• extending free school meals won´t go to the people most in need. Most primary age children who need free school meals get them already. Is it right that free school meals will go to children of the likes of Lord Adonis and Boris Johnson? What about secondary students?

• how is this going to be funded? Just cutting councillor salaries and communications won´t deliver the goods. Labour want a blank cheque and a council tax hike in a recession.

• Islington has a large number of students from Haringey and Hackney. Is it right that Islington taxpayers subsidise them?

"Even neighbouring Labour Haringey Council is refusing to back free school meals for all. The question for Labour in Islington is will it put up the council tax for everybody to help those least in need?"

You can sign the Lib Dem petition for a council tax freeze at:

http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/dontraiseourcounciltax