Call to freeze council tax rise
A COUNCILLOR has called on the chancellor to freeze this year’s council tax increase.
Faisal Rana, councillor for Spotland and Falinge has written to chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunak to make his case for the tax freeze.
He says the government should reintroduce the Council Tax Freeze grant to councils when Mr Sunak presents his budget next month.
From April Rochdale tax payers could face increases of up to £100 on their council tax bills.
Labour councillor Mr Rana said: “The council tax should be frozen this year as many households are struggling to pay bills because of the Covid19 pandemic.
“It is absurd that during the deepest recession in 300 years, and at the very time thousands of Rochdale families are worried about the future of their jobs and how they will make ends meet, Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are forcing local governments to hike up council tax.
“The prime minister said he would do ‘whatever is necessary’ to support local authorities in providing vital services - and he needs to keep to that promise. The chancellor should give families the security they need by dropping the tax increase in his budget on March 3.”
Mr Rana also called on the government to reintroduce a special grant allowing local authorities to freeze council tax bills, saying: “This government should not be making families pay the price for their mishandling of the Covid crisis and their broken promises to support councils.
“The Chancellor must cancel this hike.”