Camden New Journal

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

By RICHARD OSLEY

What you will (really) pay

Due to crossed wires with the Town Hall we published the wrong council tax figures last week. Here are the correct figures.
Band A B C D E F G H	Bill £856.84 £999.63 £1,142.44 £1,285.25 £1,570.87 £1,856.47 £2,142.09 £2,570.50

Labour wins budget vote

Opposition bid to freeze council tax foiled

LABOUR councillors outflanked their rivals to push through their Town Hall spending plans in a budget vote last night (Wednesday), ignoring calls for a total freeze on council tax.
Members approved a 1.92 per cent tax rise in a budget that included spending on the Prince of Wales Baths in Kentish Town, legal work to secure more Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and street cleaning.
Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors said there was no need for any rise at all at last night’s full council meeting.
Both parties voted against Labour’s budget and insisted that savings could be made by tightening up on bureaucracy and by reducing the council’s press and communications department.
They also argued that Assistant Chief Executive Philip Colligan’s post was unnecessary spending and called for cuts in the production of Camden Living, the council’s magazine.
The Conservatives said a 1.19 per cent reduction in council tax was possible and could be followed up with freezes in the two following years. Group leader Councillor Piers Wauchope said it would still be possible to spend on crucial services.
He said: “We would be spending on extra CCTV and dog patrols. I am surprised that the Labour councillors would not support such spending.”
The Lib Dems said they would not need to raise tax but would reverse cuts made to public toilets and increase library hours.
They proposed cutting down on legal work around Asbos but spending on child protection.
But both opposition parties saw their alternative budgets thrown out as they were outnumbered by Labour members in a final vote.
Cllr Stewart said that attempts to cut the communications department were misguided.
She said: “People seem to think communications just sit behind typewriters sending out press releases. It is much more than that. I think it is quite right that we should tell people about the services we offer.”
Cllr Stewart, delivering her first budget since replacing long-serving treasurer John Mills, added: “I am pleased that we are again setting a very low council tax rise for Camden residents.”

» A-Z of Theatre
» Local Reviews
» Local Listings
» West End Reviews
» West End Listings
» Theatre Tickets
» Theatre & Hotel Packages