Sir Ashley Fox, Member of Parliament for Bridgwater, has backed calls for Somerset residents to be given a say before any further council tax increase above the 4.99% referendum limit is imposed for a second year in a row.
Somerset households were told last year that a 7.5% council tax rise was exceptional. This year, families are being warned that bills could rise by more than £200, an increase of around 11%. Taken together, many households could soon be paying close to £900 more a year in council tax than they were in 2022.
Ashley Fox said that while councils face real financial pressures, residents should not be expected to shoulder repeated above-limit tax rises without being consulted.
Sir Ashley Fox MP said, “Families across Somerset are already under serious pressure from the cost of living. Asking them to absorb another above-limit council tax increase, for a second year running, without even giving them a say, is simply not right. Particularly as the council has been so badly managed by the Liberal Democrats.
“Council tax referendums exist for a reason. If Somerset Council believes an increase of this scale is unavoidable, it should be prepared to ask the people who will be paying the bill whether they want this and whether they can afford it.”
Ashley Fox also raised concerns about the impact of council decisions on residents, including thousands of disabled households who have lost around £400 a year in council tax support, while services have been reduced and millions spent on agency staff and consultants.
The Somerset Conservative opposition group are writing to the Liberal Democrat Leader of Somerset Council urging the administration to commit publicly to consulting residents before bringing forward any proposal to raise council tax above the referendum limit again.
The letter will be presented at Somerset Council’s Executive meeting on Wednesday 11 February.
Ashley Fox MP is encouraging Somerset residents to support this position by adding their name to the letter here www.somersetcountyconservatives.org.uk
