COUNCIL TAX TO RISE BY £152 SAY LIB DEMS

5.25.44pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 15th Jul 2004

Manchester residents have been warned that they could a face rise in their Council Tax bills of up to £152 as a result of the Chancellor's spending plans yesterday according to Opposition Liberal Democrats on Manchester City Council.

Lib Dem Finance Spokesperson Coun Marc Ramsbottom warns that local Councils came off badly as a result of Gordon Brown's spending plans and that unless extra cash is forthcoming from central government then Council Tax bill will go up.

Commenting on the Chancellor's spending review he said, "For Manchester this mean could a hike in the Council Tax bill of up to £152 a year for top rate Council Tax payers", he warned. "This announcement will do little to bring about improvements in Council services, and many departments, particularly Education, still face uncertainty about their future budgets, he said.

His figures were backed up by the Local Government Association who predict that Council Tax could rise by 6.7% next year unless extra cash is forthcoming. (See note below).

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NOTE: LGA Spending Review Briefing 2004 12 July 2004

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom

Liberal Democrat Councillor - Liberal Democrat Finance Spokesperson

Tel: (0161) 202 6603 Home

(07976) 352 513 Mobile

(0161) 234 3002 Member's Secretariat