Lib Dems win more cash for MK - Council Tax Rise Cut to under 6%

6.00.00pm GMT Mon 23rd Feb 2004

At last the Government has recognised that Milton Keynes is a special case as a growing area and is providing some extra money.

The efforts of the Liberal Democrat Council have paid off and they have been given a further £3 million at the last minute. The Liberal Democrats are guaranteeing that all the extra money will be used to slash the Council Tax rise.

Lib Dem Leader, Isobel Wilson said: "This Council originally received funding that was £10 million short. The Government was using population figures that are 2 years out of date, and withheld another £5 million from the amount that, according its own formula, it said that we need to run our services. This additional money goes some way to reducing the gap.

The Liberal Democrats have worked hard to ensure that essential services are maintained but have been appalled that the Government had forced us into a position of considering charging an 11.1% increase on Council Tax. We are delighted to announce that every penny of this extra money will be used entirely on reducing Council Tax to keep the rise to under 6%".

Cllr. Isobel Wilson continued:

"Thank goodness Labour are not still running the Council as the Council Tax increase would have been much higher. They are not prepared to stand up for the people of Milton Keynes - they have been repeatedly saying that we have been given enough money. Local Labour MPs and councillors even refused to join us in lobbying the Government for more funding. It's a good job the Labour Government doesn't agree with them and recognises that we need more money.

Not only did we lobby the Government but so did our partners and some members of the public too. I would like to personally thank our partners who have worked so hard in joining our effort to get the Government to recognise our situation in Milton Keynes. They cannot expect us to accept another 70,000 houses in the future whilst not even accepting the needs we have now - at last, under the Liberal Democrats, that message is beginning to get through".

There has been no indication that Milton Keynes is likely to be capped. Milton Keynes still has a Council Tax lower than surrounding Councils and has not received the warning letter that around 60 councils have had.

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