Reading Borough Conservatives have welcomed the agreement of a Council budget which freezes the Council Tax for a second year. At the Reading Borough Council meeting on 21 February Conservative Councillors pointed out that a Council Tax freeze was Conservative Party policy and was delivered thanks to a grant of £1.7m from the Conservative-led coalition government.
Caversham Councillor Dave Luckett moved an amendment to take £25,000 out of the publicity and Mayoral budget and ring fence it for services for older people. This proposal was referred to the Cabinet for further consideration.
Conservative Group Leader Cllr Tim Harris said, “We are delighted that once again Conservatives are setting the agenda for the Council with one of our key manifesto pledges being delivered thanks to the national government grant.”
Councillor David Stevens, Conservative Finance spokesman welcomed the budget and said “Most of the changes we made in our year of control locally have been accepted by Labour and this budget builds on our achievements. To have followed the Green party proposal of increasing Council Tax by 3.5% would have resulted in the loss of £1.7m in grant from central government.”