"Give Kingston our cash back"

10.12.01

Local MP demands fairness for Kingston council taxpayer

Following the announcement of Kingston's grant from central Government for next year, Kingston and Surbiton's Lib Dem MP, Edward Davey, has accused Government Ministers of "snatching" much-needed cash from Kingston.

MP Edward Davey is concerned that the Government's grant to Kingston fails to recognise the high cost pressures locally and that it could result in either cutbacks to local schools or yet another hike in the council tax.

Edward Davey is therefore writing to Stephen Byers, the Secretary of State responsible for Local Government, to demand changes in this provisional settlement to stop the unfairness to Kingston. Commenting, Edward Davey said:

"Ministers are snatching cash back from Kingston, just when their own figures say we do need extra.

"The high costs of running basic services in an area like Kingston are now showing through in the statistics, but Government is "capping" the compensation Kingston should rightly receive. Ministers should give Kingston our cash back.

"This settlement is one of the most complicated ever, as the Government tries to use smoke and mirrors to trick us into thinking they have helped. But the bottom line is, Kingston is not getting its fair share.

"I am especially worried by this settlement because Kingston Council's cabinet, which is made up exclusively of Conservatives, have mismanaged the local budgets in recent years, and made the council taxpayer suffer for their internal squabbles.

"In my letter, I shall be asking Mr. Byers for 3 things. First, that he removes the ceiling on the increase for Kingston, which this year is costing us £355,000. Second, that he abolishes a bizarre Government scheme which hits Kingston's council taxpayers particularly badly, namely the Council Tax Benefit Subsidy Limitation Scheme. Third, that he helps the Council with some unfair costs from housing benefit, which hit Kingston as a high rent area.

"I will tell the Minister straight, that neither he nor the local Council can keep asking the local council taxpayer to pay ever more. Council tax is such an unfair tax, hitting many low income people hard. It's time the government gave Kingston some fairness."