Commenting on last week’s local government financial settlement, Lib Dem Leader Cllr Neil Williams (Highgate) says:

“I am pleased that the Government has effectively told councils like Haringey that they can longer have the sort of massive tax increases they have pushed through in recent years.

“However, any extra money is really a ‘sticking plaster’ to get Labour through the general election campaign.Even so, local residents are still very likely to face Council Tax bills at least 30% higher than at the last local elections.”

Lib Dem Finance spokesperson, Cllr Stephen Gilbert (Fortis Green), comments:

“Behind, the scenes, the Government is pressing ahead with a revaluation of Council Tax bands. Because of huge house price increases in recent years, we are very likely to see almost all Haringey properties rise massively up the grading scale.

“The whole system is a shambles, and only a complete rethink, with a local income tax, would give local residents an equitable and stable system with manageable levels of local taxation.”

Note:For more about the Lib Dem alternative to Council Tax – a local income tax – see www.axethetax.org.uk