Shock Union calls for Council Tax increases in Medway

Unison has today called for Medway Council to consider increasing Council Tax levels.

Conservative run Medway Council has the lowest Council Tax levels in Kent, which is on average ?130 lower.

This year it is proposing to freeze Council Tax bills to help hard pressed families and businesses in Medway.

However, Unison, which has long established links with the Labour party, has called for Medway to look at increasing Council Tax and to not accept the government?s freeze on tax levels.

In an interview on BBC Radio Kent (10 February 2011) a Unison representative said: “We?d like to see the Council looking at the Council Tax option and not necessarily entering into this deal which the government has offered to the councils”.

This comes as the Conservative Medway Council announces its budget plans this week. These propose to maintain key front line services without cutting important areas including Sure Start, libraries or green spaces.

Deputy Leader Alan Jarrett said “This shows how out of touch the unions and Labour are to the needs of residents in Medway. The Conservative Council is proposing to freeze Council Tax levels this year so that residents continue to pay the lowest tax in Kent, which is around ?130 lower than the average.

“On top of that we?ve proposed a budget which maintains key front line services including Sure Start, green spaces and libraries. If Labour were running Medway we could look forward to Council Tax rises rather than being frozen under a Conservative administration.”