Goldsworthy calls for radical shake up of Local Government funding

12.00.00am GMT Fri 16th Dec 2005

Local MP Julia Goldsworthy has called for a radical shake up in the way local Government is funded following bleak warnings from local authorities that Council Tax will have to rise by anywhere between 5 and 11% in the New Year.

The MP for Falmouth and Camborne is concerned that the Government sees raising Council Tax as an easy option to cover the rising cost of essential local services such as fire and police regardless of its effect on local pensioners and families on low income.

Miss Goldsworthy also accuses the Government of "cooking the books" by refusing to increase payments to maintain essential service providers despite asking them to carry out extra duties. The MP sees this as a cynical attempt to diminish the black hole within the Government's budget by placing impossible pressure on local councils. The result is rising Council Tax.

"It seems that every time the Government suggests that local services should be restructured, whether it is merger of the local police authorities or centralising fire service control, it is the Council Tax payer that is expected to meet the cost. Either that or front line services must be cut.

"It is high time that the Government took responsibility for its actions and recognised that the only solution to properly funding local Government and essential services is to do away with Council Tax and replace it with a system of local income tax, based on ability to pay."