LAST night’s meeting of Thurrock Council saw the Conservatives impose a 3% Council Tax increase – meaning they have increased the tax by a quarter since forming the administration in 2016.
Labour group leader, John Kent, said;
“We are in the midst of a Tory Cost of Living crisis and, while an increase of 2.99% doesn’t sound like much, added to gas and electricity prices rising by 54%, the 10% National Insurance tax hike, petrol prices at record levels, inflation at a 30 year high and stagnating wages then it’s clear that this increase may be too much for some of our residents to bare.”
Although the Labour group voted against the increase the Tory majority on the council ensured increase went through.
Despite another Council Tax increase residents will see a raft of service cuts, including, fortnightly bin collections, new parking charges at parks and open spaces, cuts to Home to School transport and The Thameside and Grangewaters still under threat having been declared “surplus to requirement” by the Conservatives back in July.
Cllr Kent said;
“The Conservatives have now increased Council Tax by 25%, at the same time, racking up £1.5 billion of debt and cutting services. It’s clear that, under the Tories, Never have people been asked to pay so much for so little in return.”
