Warwick District Council Short Changed by Labour

9.11.54pm GMT Sun 10th Feb 2008

Warwick District Council-Tax Payers have been shortchanged by Labour.

Warwick District Council have been short changed by the Government in last weeks cash settlement for local councils. At a rise of just 1% Warwick District has received one of the lowest settlements in the country. Warwick & Leamington MP James Plaskitt voted for the settlement and Kenilworth Conservative MP Jeremy Wright abstained along with all but three of his party colleagues.

Alan Beddow, Lib-Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Warwick & Leamington said, "Warwick District has been ripped off by the Government. It's not as if the District Council is inefficient and needs to cut its budget. During the Lib-Dem shared administration an Audit Commission report stated the Council was well run and provided value for money. I am shocked that local MP James Plaskitt voted for the settlement. This will have a real impact on local services across the District."

Not even the Tories stood up for the district! Kenilworth MP Jeremy Wright abstained and only three conservatives joined the Lib-Dem's in voting against this penny pinching settlement. The rise barely takes into account inflation and the additional costs of services the government requires councils to provide. The end result is that councils are being forced to increase council tax above inflation and cut services. It is a case of pay more and get less under Labour.