Speak up now (From The Argus)

Speak up now

9:20am Monday 13th February 2012 in Your Argus

Over the coming weeks, the local authority of Brighton and Hove will be setting its council tax bills for the year ahead.

Last year, the coalition Government offered additional funding to help councils freeze their council tax.

Every eligible council took up the offer, saving a typical family up to £72 in council tax on a Band D home.

This year, the Government is offering councils another opportunity to freeze council tax, providing a further £675 million of extra funding to support a freeze.

Already half of all councils have signalled they will sign up to the freeze – and I congratulate those which have done so.

I would encourage readers of The Argus to lobby their local councillors if they want to keep their tax bills frozen.

Hard-working families have to count the pounds and pennies at the end of the month.

At a time when public and private sector workers are facing pay freezes, the last thing they need is to see their council tax bill get even bigger.

This month, councils have an important opportunity to help hard-working families and pensioners with the cost of living.

Anything less is a kick in the teeth for Brighton and Hove’s taxpayers.

Bob Neill MP, minister for local government