Lib Dems welcome government-funded Council tax freeze

South Gloucestershire Lib Dems have welcomed government funding for a council tax freeze. The funding, equivalent to a 2.5% rise in Council Tax, is being provided to Councils who freeze Council Tax, to help them meet demand for services without having to pass the burden on to local people.

Cllr Ruth Davis, Leader of the Lib Dems on South Gloucestershire Council, said, “The Lib Dems will not support any increase in South Gloucestershire's Council Tax for residents in the coming year. In these tough economic times it would be daft to turn down the extra government funding and instead place the burden on local people. Cutting waste and bureaucracy must be the priority for savings not cuts to youth services or rural bus routes. The Lib Dem group will fight to protect frontline services such as libraries, street cleaning and services for the vulnerable and elderly, which may be under threat in a number of the Conservative administration's service reviews and proposed budget. We offer an honest commitment of working closely with you to allow you to make real choices for your communities.”

Thornbury and Yate MP and Pensions Minister Steve Webb said, "In these difficult times, my colleagues in Government have set aside an extra £650 million to help local authorities in England freeze their council tax this year."