Lib Dems Deliver No Rise in Council Tax

12.00.00am GMT Mon 27th Feb 2006

The Liberal Democrats will tonight make Islington one of the few Councils in the country to have NO rise in Council Tax next year.

They will propose that the money residents pay to Islington Council in Council Tax in 2006-7 remains exactly the same as in 2005-6: £901.99 at Band D.

This is in stark contrast to Labour, whose London Mayor Ken Livingstone has increased the amount of money HE is charging to Islington residents by 13.3%.

It also means residents in Liberal Democrat Islington will pay at least £90 LESS than residents in the three neighbouring Labour boroughs, Camden, Haringey and Hackney.

But despite the freeze in Council Tax, through good financial management, the Lib Dems are also delivering increased investment in some key areas, including:

£1 MILLION extra investment in CCTV

£900,000 into funding more police in Islington

£135,000 into tackling Anti-Social Behaviour

£1,600,000 into Social Services

£125,000 to expand the Council's popular Contact Islington centre

Cllr Steve Hitchins, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Council, said

"Islington is already officially the fastest improving Council in the country - and tonight we are investing to improve our services even further. We're putting more money into making Islington a safer, greener and better place to live.

"Through good financial management we are also able to keep your Council Tax right down. The contrast with Labour who put up Council Tax, could not be starker.

"Over the last few months we have carried out the most extensive consultation exercise ever on the Council's budget, with more than 1,800 people individually contributing their views. The strongest message to come out loud and clear is that they want to keep Council Tax - and we're delivering that."

The Facts

1. Residents pay just one Council Tax bill, but it goes to two places. The money they pay to Liberal Democrat-run Islington Council will be £901.99 in 2006-7 - exactly the same as in 2005-6. The part they pay to Labour London Mayor Ken Livingstone will rise from £254.62 to £288.61 - a rise of 13.35%. The total bill therefore rises from £1156.61 to £1,190.60. (All figures at Band D).

2. Islington Liberal Democrats have a strong record in keeping Council Tax down. For the first three years they ran the Council, they cut Council Tax every year. Since then they have pledged to keep Islington's Council Tax below the average in London, and have kept their promise every year.

3. Council Tax in Islington will be £1,190.60 (Band D). This is more than £90 less than in each of Labour-run Camden (£1285), Hackney (£1286) and Haringey (£1383) - where residents will pay almost £200 more than in Islington.

4. Liberal Democrat investment in this Budget includes:

£800,000 for Better Streets

£700,000 for More Recycling

£900,000 for More Police

£1,100,000 for Safeguarding Children

£36,000 for Protecting Trees

£525,000 for People with Learning Disabilities

£1.6 Million for Social Services

£200,000 for Children in Care

£400,000 for More Childrens Social Workers

£150,000 for More Foster Carers

£125,000 for Contact Islington

£100,000 for Consulting Residents

£135,000 for Anti-Social Behaviour Team

£140,000 for Youth Work Team

£100,000 for Getting Young People into Sport