tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post980331603411763643..comments2023-05-21T13:27:52.157+01:00Comments on Not The Barnet Times: Council Tax to rise 2.81%Don't Call Me Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-59592706913334704972009-01-05T20:45:00.000+00:002009-01-05T20:45:00.000+00:00Dear Anonymous (well not that anon really),Why not...Dear Anonymous (well not that anon really),<BR/><BR/>Why not set a zero rate increase and spunk all of the reserves. As the Barnet Tories have completely given up on trying to pretend they have any credibility in matters financial, why not go the whole hog and give us all a break.<BR/><BR/>If you're going to completely ruin the council's finances do it properly. I remember the good old days when the Tories used to berate Labour for pre election bribes. <BR/><BR/>What next, will Mike Freer announce he's saved the world?<BR/><BR/>At least when Barnet Labour had a budget defecit we knew we'd voted for the policy !Rog Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08139705078907584931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-10676867631995492452009-01-04T22:54:00.000+00:002009-01-04T22:54:00.000+00:00David is right. Firstly Council Tax is going up by...David is right. Firstly Council Tax is going up by 3.49%, except nearly 1% is being deferred for next year. Spending is running out of control in Barnet as the Council is Officer led, not Councillor led. The leading Cabinet Members boast about how they don't get their hands dirty.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, to get elected Mike Freer hounded Victor Lyon to make a zero percent Council Tax increase and tried to spilt the Group of Councillors. Now, nicely sitting in the Town Hall, suddenly rises above that of the past are fine and defensible.<BR/><BR/>Most worryingly Barnet has not developed a culture of thrift. In just two examples discovered last year, the purchase of large TVs and laptops, extravagant waste of taxpayers money was shown. It's what happens when bureaucracies run out of control.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-52038599022736214422009-01-04T22:39:00.000+00:002009-01-04T22:39:00.000+00:00Dear AnonBarnet’s rise might be lower than some (p...Dear Anon<BR/><BR/>Barnet’s rise might be lower than some (perhaps most?) other councils but that doesn’t make it ok. We are entering the worst recession for a generation. Pensioners who rely on their savings cannot afford any increase in council tax whatsoever.<BR/><BR/>Mike Freer has acknowledged the dire situation many Barnet residents will suffer this year due to job losses. The unemployed cannot afford a 2.81% rise in council tax.<BR/><BR/>The council is borrowing from the reserves to keep the rise below 3%, but this will result in a higher bill in future years. If ever there was a situation that required the council to slash waste and bureaucracy to ensure a zero tax rise, this is surely it.<BR/><BR/>Freer promised the Conservative Group he would deliver a zero tax rise. If he can’t honour this pledge when it is so desperately needed, why should anyone believe anything he ever says again? Hammersmith & Fulham are reducing council tax by 3% so it can be done.Don't Call Me Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-61381702998391549002009-01-04T19:24:00.000+00:002009-01-04T19:24:00.000+00:002.81% is lower than most councils. Can't you ever ...2.81% is lower than most councils. Can't you ever stop complaining?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com