Councillors say yes to council tax increase (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Councillors say yes to council tax increase

9:10pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News

COUNCIL tax will go up in Chelmsford - despite a last ditch attempt by the Liberal Democrats to persuade councillors to avoid the hike.

The increase of £4.01 per year for an average Band D property was approved at a full meeting of Chelmsford Council tonight (February 15).

When it came to the vote, 31 were in favour of the rise while 15 Liberal Democrats opposed the proposal.

Councillor Tom Smith-Hughes, Lib Dem financial spokesman, put forward an alternative option, which suggested the council accepted a Government grant that would freeze council tax for the 2012/13 financial year.

He said the council had underspent by £1million every year for the last seven years and suggested similar savings could help to eventually repay the loan.

However, councillors agreed to make the increase now and not delay the "inevitable".