Planned rises in Haringey’s Council Tax for the coming year will result inrenewed hardship for local residents, says Cllr Neil Williams.

The Lib Demleader was commenting on a planned 6% rise in the Haringey element ofCouncil Tax for the coming year – well above the rate of inflation, andexcluding any increase that Labour Mayor Ken Livingstone might levy onHaringey’s hard pressed council tax payers.

Lib Dems say the planned increases will hit the less well off in the boroughparticularly hard, especially local pensioners.Cllr Williams also says theborough should put pressure on the Government to introduce a fair system oflocal taxation.

Cllr Neil Williams comments:

“A six percent increase next year means that on top of the previous twoyears’ increases, Haringey residents will be paying a massive 33% more forcouncil services since the last local elections in 2002 – and that is notincluding increases levied by London Labour Mayor Ken Livingstone, whichhave taken the charges even higher.

“The planned increase will hit local pensioners particularly hard. Haringey Council is also not doing enough to ensure that pensioners take fulladvantage of relief from Council Tax. What is needed is fair system of localtaxation, through a local income tax.”