Council tax freeze delivered by Conservatives

For decades the Residents' Associations have raised our council tax every single year. That is all about to change. Not because the RAs have seen the error of their ways, but because the Conservatives in government have delivered on their manifesto promise to make council tax freezes available across the country. This is why Epsom & Ewell residents will see no increase in their council tax over the next year.

In recent council meetings RA councillors have been so critical of the coalition government that one would imagine they would prefer to see Gordon Brown and the Labour Party back in power. Perhaps they should be grateful for the Conservatives being in government, otherwise the RAs would simply continue their tradition of forcing unattractive, unfair, unjustified and unpopular council tax increases upon Epsom & Ewell's already hard-pressed residents.

No council tax freeze for Epsom residents

Residents' Association councillors will deny local residents the council tax freeze on offer from any future Conservative government.

The Conservatives have stated that if successful at the next General Election we will provide funds to any council that is able to restrict its proposed council tax increase to 2.5%. These funds, obtained by reducing the money central government spends on consultants, will allow participating councils to freeze council tax completely.

At December's Full Council meeting I asked the Residents' Association leadership to commit to being able to take advantage of these funds. They refused. The Residents' Associations are currently projecting that Epsom's council tax will increase by just under 5%, the maximum allowed, for the foreseeable future. They are not willing to run the council efficiently enough to offer a council tax freeze to our Residents.

The Residents' Associations have wasted our money in the good years so that they cannot make it easier for local residents in the hard years. That they are not even willing to try is the real shame of it all.

The Conservative Group on the council will continue to push for a council tax freeze.