At last Wednesday’s main council meeting, Conservative Group leader Cllr Nadia Cenci brought forward alternative proposals to the Labour administration’s near- 2% council tax increase.
Conservatives believe in reducing residents’ outgoings, and we can do this by removing unnecessary costs that do not affect front line services and also accepting the grant that the government is giving for any council that freezes or reduces its bill.
In summary, Cllr Cenci said that the main savings in 2015/16 would be-
Reduce Ipswich Angle to two editions (each year): £51,000
Reduce Area Committee Funding by £2,500 per ward: £40,000
Remove allowances paid to Area Committee Chairmen: £ 9,400 (half a year this time round but double that going forward)
Council Tax Freeze Grant from government £ 136,000.
Unfortunately (but predictably) the Labour administration rejected all of our ideas entirely.
We applaud Conservative-run Suffolk County Council as it continues to fulfil its 8-year pledge for a council tax freeze from 2010 to 2018 saving residents over £1500.