Shropshire Star

Tax rise referendum debate is ruled out by Shropshire Council

Residents in the county will not be asked whether or not they want a referendum on increasing council tax to save public services, Shropshire Council has decided.

Published

At a full council meeting yesterday, Ludlow North councillor Andy Boddington put forward a motion to see residents across the county consulted on whether they want to pay more council tax.

Speaking at the meeting held at Shirehall, he said some constituents had called for a referendum to pay more for the Shropshire Council portion of their tax, in a bid to keep services including libraries and museums open.

He said: "We should talk to the town and parish councils and use the media and see what is their opinion. All this would demonstrate that Shropshire Council really does have a commitment to working with town and parish councils"

This week it was revealed that Shropshire Council would give town and parish councils an extra 12 months to consider taking on or paying for museums, libraries, open spaces, and leisure centres.

Council chief executive Clive Wright said the authority would have to use money from its earmarked reserve fund of £60.8 million to help pay for the services for the extended period.

Councillor Boddington's motion had proposed to speak to residents about the potential to increase the Shropshire Council portion by more than 1.99 per cent, rather than relying on parish councils to increase their portions to cover service costs. It would not mean holding a referendum, but ask if it was something residents wanted.

However leader of Shropshire Council, Malcolm Pate, said it was instead important to see what the Government's new cabinet would introduce.

He said: "I don't think a referendum is the answer and I certainly don't think the time is now with a new Government and what is hopefully a softer Government. Also, if we have any doubts about it, it would be wasting £800,000 that could be spent elsewhere."

The motion was amended to say Shropshire Council recommends no action should be considered with regard to investigating the case for adjustments to council tax, until the Government's intentions on the issue become clearer.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.