The Labour-led Rotherham council are presenting their council tax increases today in Rotherham Town Hall. Same old Labour and their Rotherham town-centric policies.
When Labour inevitably try and blame others for their failings and why they “need” to increase your council tax, remember some of the projects they DID find funding for?
- £3 million a year to RENT the council offices at Riverside House – over the 35 year contract £120million+ will be given to the private company that owns the building
- Currently nearly £2 million a year in further operating costs excluding rent for Riverside House (not including staff wages!)
- Money for various vanity projects across the borough including a “green corridor” in Greasbrough and illuminating the clock tower in Wickersley North.
- Putting forward a “levelling-up” plan to demolish Wath library, after spending money to refurbish it!
The Rotherham Conservative councillors are putting forward their counter proposals to keep down council tax, while focusing on improving core council services. We know Rother Valley residents are fed up of seeing their streets blighted by rubbish and riddled with potholes, the Conservative budget amendment would go someway to tackling these core issues across the whole of the borough, not just the town centre.
More importantly the Conservatives understand the need to keep council tax increases down to the essential minimum and ensuring that the rise is fair and not disproportionately impacting those already facing the largest squeeze in their incomes.
Unfortunately – the council is Labour controlled and they will inevitably reject the Conservative proposals.
At the next local elections in 2024, the Conservatives will have a great chance to put forward a vision for increased focus on regeneration of our high streets and building the infrastructure improvements to support new housing developments. There will be a move away from the pet vanity projects of Labour – instead focussing on keeping down council tax down by having an emphasis on delivering value for money while improving key services.
Image: "Budget" by Got Credit is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
