Conservatives set Council Tax rise at just 10·86%!This actually reduced the Council Tax rise a little, to just 10·86%, which is a remarkable achievement and widens still further the difference between Council Tax rates in Medway and those elsewhere in the south-east. Indeed, it is almost certain that Medway's rise is the lowest increase in the entire region, with other authorities around us raising their levels by typically 18–19%.
Even better, though this should of course have been unnecessary, a sum of £4½ million was put into education to make up nearly two-thirds of the £7·1 million shortfall in this year's education settlement from the government. This doesn't solve every problem caused by this as-yet unexplained short-changing of Medway by government Ministers (who have given no explanation for it when challenged by Medway Councillors, though they accept that it is "very disappointing") but really is about as much as we can afford.
On top of all this, several services are being improved, including proper road foundation repairs, and a fair sprinkling of new initiatives. There are some really good ideas coming forward this next year...
Here are the actual total amounts for each Charging Band for 2003–2004, including £94·95 precept for the Police, but excluding any Parish precept:
| Band A : | £ | 612·96 | — | Band B : | £ | 715·12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band C : | £ | 817·28 | — | Band D : | £ | 919·44 |
| Band E : | £ | 1,123·76 | — | Band F : | £ | 1,328·08 |
| Band G : | £ | 1,532·40 | — | Band H : | £ | 1,838·88 |
The only way our people can make a difference is by strongly lobbying the government in respect of future years' settlements. In a couple of years' time we can show our displeasure at their treatment of Medway by voting out their three Members of Parliament. In the meantime, we can send a very strong signal by writing to the Ministers concerned, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with not only this threat but also by voting out as many as possible of their lcandidates in the forthcoming Medway local elections.
It would certainly send a very strong message if they found on 2nd May that the Labour presence on Medway Council had been effectively wiped out. It would perhaps also serve those Councillors right for continually claiming that this appalling settlement was a good one, and for their original proposals to raise this year's Council Tax by some 38%.