Gosport’s council tax is frozen for third year
COUNCIL tax will be frozen for the people of Gosport for the third year in a row, councillors agreed last night.
At a full council meeting, the freeze was recommended by the ruling Conservatives at Gosport Borough Council and was agreed by all parties.
It means that residents in an average band D property will still pay £202.81.
This will be added to tax charged by Hampshire County Council and the police and fire authorities.
Councillor Mark Hook, council leader, said: ‘We have made difficult decisions in the challenging financial climate we find ourselves in.
‘If we don’t continue to take steps now to live within our means we’ll end up paying higher taxes and face even deeper cuts to restore balance to our economy.
‘Gosport’s residents expect us to act in a responsible manner in delivering a budget to meet their priority needs and especially so in these extraordinary and challenging times.
‘I am determined to keep the bills for our residents down and that is why, for the third year running, Gosport’s Conservative administration is proposing no increase to the council tax.’
It came as a total budget of £10,539,690 for the coming year was agreed by a majority vote – only around £167,000 less than last year.
But Cllr Peter Chegwyn, leader of the Liberal Democrats, criticised the Conservatives for making cuts to public services, including a reduction in funding for CCTV cameras.
‘Yes, it’s a difficult time in local government,’ he said.
‘It’s difficult for all of us. But all of us are here to try and protect public services.
‘Cutting further services doesn’t leave a better standard of living for people in this town.’
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Comments
There are 28 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
liverpoolboy
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 07:42 PMSeejay,DOH :0) ,another silly comment. Well done you.
Pentip
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 09:45 PM'The News' comment board - This the site where anonymous comments and pseudonyms give way to unchecked facts and minimum concern for the laws of libel and slander. It's good to read today that Parliament is considering tightening the law in this respect. If Mr Oliver has concerns and GosportTrader is worried that the Council Leader has not replied to his criticisms, why don't they visit him in the High Street to express their views and ideas? But perhaps they have other motives?
Juggernaut
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 12:54 PMPerhaps you need to learn, "MrOliver", that a view contrary to what the Liberal Democrats think is not necessarily a Conservative one. Not all of us are blue bogeymen.
GosportTrader
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 12:58 PMWhile the schoolboy politicians play 'yah boo' politics against one another it is a pity none of them or Mark Hook has answered by comment @ 15 which I repeat here: "No mention of any help for town centre traders. Come on Mark. You're a shopkeeper yourself so you know how we're struggling as shoppers desert Gosport for the new shops in Fareham (free parking at Tesco) and Gunwharf. Maybe you should share that money you get from your council for leasing out your upstairs. The rest of us would love a handout to help us survive the recession."
Gosport View
Sunday, February 5, 2012 at 10:35 AMComment removed by moderator
seejay32
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 04:34 PM@ 22: Now YOU read the report. There was a majority vote in favour of the budget, so someone must have voted against it. Wasn't you, was it?
MrOliver
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 01:52 PMSeejay @ 21. Read The News report and you will see that ALL parties are reported as voting for a zero council tax increase. They all seem to agree on that. Where they differ is on how they wish to spend your money. The Lib. Dems. seem to want more money spent on public services. Mr Hook and the Conservatives want to spend more money on the Town Hall including more allowances for Mr Hook and his fellow councillors, big salary increases for well-paid council bosses and the little matter of nearly £8000 a year rent from the Council to Mr Hook himself for the use of office space above his shop! Perhaps someone will tell us where Labour stand on all this as we only seem to get the Conservative view from Pentip, Gosport Bloke, Juggernaut, Seejay, rogerpallen & co.
seejay32
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 12:57 PM@ 20: Another one who wants to pay more council tax. Nothing stopping you, just send a cheque to the borough treasurer
liverpoolboy
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 09:09 AMAll the Tory Sychaphants are out in force on here eh.
seejay32
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 08:01 PMGosport View @ 18: 'I see the Lib Dem organ grinders are still at it. When will they grow up and have something sensible and constructive to say?' About the same time the LibDooms grow up and stop pretending what they aren't.
Gosport View
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 07:02 PMI see the Lib Dem organ grinders are still at it. When will they grow up and have something sensible and constructive to say?
CouncilWatcher
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 06:20 PMIs this COUNCILLOR Roger P Allen? A Conservative representing the Hardway Ward? If I am right then his praise for the Conservative Party and his criticism of the Liberal Democrat Party is hardly a surprise is it?
Rogerpallen
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 01:29 PMWe can see that the nasty campaigning from Lib Dems in Gosport's coming elections will be centred on personal attacks. There will be no response from Conservatives. The campaign will be fought on the issues that concern Gosports people and the track record of Conservatives delivering on commitments.
GosportTrader
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:44 AMNo mention of any help for town centre traders. Come on Mark. You're a shopkeeper yourself so you know how we're struggling as shoppers desert Gosport for the new shops in Fareham (free parking at Tesco) and Gunwharf. Maybe you should share that money you get from your council for leasing out your upstairs. The rest of us would love a handout to help us survive the recession.
TheRevolution
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 11:34 AMThree years under the Conservatives has meant cuts to our front line staff in the foyer of the town hall, glorious flower beds turning to weed beds, dog fouling all over our pavements, bins overflowing and cuts in CCTV to name but a few. The Conservatives have given 10% pay rises to senior officers, while the Leader of the Conservatives awards himself the carpet contract for the town hall. Golden handshakes one might suggest?
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