The man behind proposals for a 3.5% council tax rise has been branded a “pickpocket”.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s finance cabinet member, Jason Kitcat, has been locked in a war of words with Communities Secretary Eric Pickles over the authority’s decision to refuse a Government incentive to freeze council tax.
Yesterday (February 15) Mr Pickles branded his Green adversary a “democracy dodger”.
It comes a week before a crunch meeting at which the full council will set the final budget for the city. Opposition groups say they will oppose any proposals that raise council tax.
Speaking exclusively to The Argus Mr Pickles said: “The Green Party are running a cynical and politically motivated campaign using hard pressed residents as political pawns.
"Councillor Kitcat and his colleagues are quite happy to pick the pockets of their residents with tax hikes but when it comes to putting their tax rises to the public vote they are the ultimate democracy dodgers.”
'Bullying'
Coun Kitcat said: “The Government are running an extraordinary bullying campaign on their tax freeze which rides roughshod over any pretence that Conservatives care for local democracy.
“Independent analysts, the Tory chair of the Local Government Association and many councils including those led by Conservatives have all highlighted the damage accepting the tax freeze will do to council finances.
“It’s telling that Mr Pickles does not like our honesty with residents over the true nature of his gimmick. This is not a party political issue.
"Councils of all political hues have been honest in rejecting the freeze for what it is, an attack on local government freedom and finances.”
Council leader Bill Randall has written to the 18 councils who have so far indicated they are considering putting up council tax asking them to show a united front against the Government.
The Greens presented their final budget proposals at their cabinet meeting last week including several U-turns on unpopular cuts including to the music service.
However, the Greens have stuck by their pledge to increase council tax by 3.5% despite overwhelming opposition in The Argus’s referendum on the issue, which polled the views of 7,000 readers.
The Labour and Conservative groups can still defeat the planned rise if the group vote together against the Greens at the full council meeting on Thursday, February 23.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel