Quote:
Originally Posted by Cyfr
I've got my hands on an Observer and just read the columns. I have no idea how Graham Jones has the nerve to say some of those things!
"How did council tax rise by 45% and nobody did anything"
Well firstly it's nice to see he used the correct figure. However how is this a bad thing? Have you looked at how much council tax rises have been on average throughout the rest of the country? Over 100%! We have a 45% rise, how is this BAD?
Every year except the last one or two the Labour group on council have proposed HIGHER council tax increases than the Conservatives! Complete hypocrisy! I suspect the only reason they've done it differently this year is for short term political gain.
"The Daily Telegraph put Hyndburn Borough Council as the most expensive council in Britain yet local Conservatives are sure they will retain power easily."
I have explained this over and over in several threads here, he has clearly failed to take any notice, and using the fact that people will take the figure at face value to gain politically. When you actually look at how the Telegraph got to that figure it nowhere near represents Hyndburn. If you're reading this Graham I'm happy to meet up with you and discuss it.
"..we still have a poor performing, high Council Tax council."
As I've said before our council tax is much less than a lot of other people are paying. The Labour national government have put HUGE pressures on local councils by delegating more responsibility without fully funding it. Council tax has to go up to deal with these things, but it appears that our council has done well to keep the increases relatively small.
"more dictatorship, or a change of direction, free speech and democracy"
Does he seriously realise what he's writing? I have no quarrel with what he's saying about increasing democracy. I think its a good thing he wants greater democracy with more people contributing, but how can anyone suggest that a Conservative council is currently a dictatorship, that we don't have free speech? Those words are reserved for North Korea not Accrington.
Then finally he gos on to talk about how Blackburn Council have introduced free sports, yet makes the comparison between Blackburn and Hyndburn. How can you make this comparison? Blackburn with Darwen is a unitary authority, they get ALL the money in council tax. Our local council get around 20% with around 80% going to Lancashire County Council!
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Now I don't want you to have a funny turn, but...
I've just had another leaflet posted through my door re: Thursday's elections.
In big bold letters it announces 'the most expensive council in Britain'. Informing us that the Daily Telegraph has put Hyndburn at No. 1 spot as being the most expensive concil in Britain, and gives the source in brackets being from March 2008/8.1% income.
