Call for say in tax hikes

ROYAL BOROUGH: A petition calling for a referendum to allow residents to decide the future of their council tax is set to go live in the coming days.

After a launch event on Monday held by members of The Borough First, a petition has been created and is under review from the borough’s democratic services.

The petition calls for the council to hold a referendum, which could cost around £200,000, to give residents a say on whether council tax should be increased above the five per cent cap.

The Borough First Members have suggested that residents may prefer a larger council tax hike in 2022/23 instead of seeing further cuts to crucial services over the next five years.

With a multitude of cuts announced in the draft budget for 2021/22, members of The Borough First have suggested asking residents if they would prefer a larger council tax hike to protect valuable services from further cuts.

Speaking at the launch, Councillor Geoff Hill

(TBF, Oldfield) said: “Yes it is expensive, £200,000 in the current climate with the pressure the borough is under.

“What I would say is democracy is expensive and democracy is a very difficult system to run, it’s the hardest system of running a country in the world, I also believe it’s the very best.

“You can’t put a price on democracy and freedom and get people the opportunity to express their views in a fair and transparent way.”

The council leader, Andrew Johnson, has been contacted for comment.