Lib Dems are the only party to oppose Crawley's Council Tax increase

12.20.37am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 23rd Feb 2006

At the Council Tax setting meeting last night in Crawley only the Liberal Democrats opposed the suggested 2.9% increase. The Conservative group refused to oppose it and abstained after there own amendment, on a reduction of a few pennies a week, was decisively rejected.

Gordon Seekings, speaking for the Liberal Democrat group said "Although the small increase is to be welcomed - it has after all been discussed and argued about extensively over the last 6 months by all the political parties - it should only contain what the Council can reasonably expect to spend or save."

Gordon went on to say " We should also note that Crawley Borough Council's part of the total Council Tax bill is minute compared to Conservative run West Sussex County Council's part - and that has gone up dramatically."

Last year the Borough Council set a budget that included spending money on improvements to the neighbourhood shopping parades such as one of the oldest in Northgate. That money was not spent. Northgate Parade still needs basic maintenance work on it as well as additional expenditure on improvements.

As a result the Liberal Democrats could not support the new Council budget even though there are many aspects of it that are supported such as increased spending on 'street scene' items (paving, seating, lighting, litter picking etc. etc.).