‘If you can afford a McDonald’s you can afford a £5 council tax rise’
ROW BREAKS OUT OVER INCREASE FOR YEAR
PEOPLE who can afford McDonald’s meals can afford a council tax rise, a councillor has argued.
A row has broken out over a £5 a year increase Charnwood Borough Council approved this week for its share of the annual bill from April.
Members of the Conservative-run authority defended the rise of 9.6 pence a week after Labour opposition politicians argued the extra burden could be the tipping point for hard-pressed residents who have struggled during the pandemic.
In a budget meeting on Monday, Labour argued the borough should freeze its portion of the council tax bill – known as the precept – to give residents a break.
However, the Conservatives argued without the 5 per cent rise, even more council services would have to be cut over the next 12 months and more jobs at the council would be lost.
Councillor Hillary Fryer said: “Zero council tax increase does not help people. It (£5) is barely two cups of coffee and it is certainly not a packet of cigarettes.”
Fellow Conservative member Coun Jenny Bokor said: “To go on about a £5 a year increase, that it is going to affect families terribly, is just ridiculous because the queue on McDonald’s drive-through last week was substantial – so what is £5 a year? I’m sorry but it is just a ridiculous argument.”
Leader of the council’s Labour group, Coun Jewel Miah, accused the Tories of “talking down” to people to justify the raise, adding: “I am ashamed to be part of this council when Conservative councillors talk about the general public like that.”
Labour colleague Coun Katrina Goddard said £5 could be used to buy a struggling family 50 nappies, adding: “If you are in that position £5 is a lot of money, not just two cups of tea.” She said it was the wrong approach to over-burden residents with a council tax rise at this time.
The Conservatives pointed out a number of Labour councillors mistakenly suggested the rise would be £5 a month. Conservative deputy council leader Coun Tom Barkley said the rise was actually 9.6 pence per week and said the authority had done much to help the most vulnerable people in the borough during the pandemic, including distributing 20,000 food parcels.
The budget was passed by 37 votes to 13, with three abstentions.
Borough and district councils’ share of the council tax will be added to precepts from the county council, fire service and police in the final bills that will arrive before April 1.