Robert Marshall-Andrews

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Council Tax rise

FACTS

Medway Council has raised Council Tax by 9.8 per cent

The extent of the increase is unnecessary and totally out of line with other comparable councils in the South of England.

The increase has been imposed despite exceptionally large support and grants from central Government.

DETAILS

Comparable figures are as follows:
1.      Poole,  Conservative,  +5.96%
2.      Bournemouth,  Lib Dem,  +5.9%
3.      Southampton,  Hung,  +8.4%
4.      Brighton & Hove,  Hung,  +7.7%
5.      Thurrock,  Labour,  +4%

Central Government Support

Extra revenue support £8.5 million
Regeneration grants £57 million

Commenting on the increase Bob Marshall-Andrews said, "Over the past three years Medway's MPs have worked hard to persuade central Government to provide huge increases in revenue and capital grants to recognise Medway's special status and to ensure the continued regeneration of the Towns. Against this background I am very concerned that this burden should have been placed on my constituents. I am particularly concerned that healthy reserves have been reduced by millions year by year while constructive and profitable development (such as parts of Rochester airport) have been ignored and wasted. Some spending has been unwise including approximately £250,000 in the employment and dismissal (within eighteen months) of a Sponsorship officer.  Given the scale of increases by similar councils it is difficult not the conclude that this represents a wholly unnecessary and deliberate political confrontation with central government."