Council Tax hikes and a surge in affordable rents has been approved by Lib Dem-run South Cambridgeshire District Council – England’s only 4-day week council.
Residents will be desperately frustrated that the Lib Dems have increased taxes and rents – all when council staff are being paid not to work.
For over two years, the Lib Dem-run council has forced residents to pay council staff 37 hours for only 32 hours work per week.
At the council’s annual budget meeting on Tuesday, the Lib Dem administration waved through a 2.7% increase in affordable rents, 4% rise in shared ownership rents, a 5% pay rise for councillors and a £5.09 Council Tax hike. Yes, they really will pinch every penny.
The tax rises were opposed by Conservative councillors.
Cllr Heather Williams, Leader of the Conservative Opposition at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said during the meeting:
“We will vote against increasing Council Tax while we are paying officers not to work.”
After the meeting, Cllr Heather Williams reflected:
“They are putting absolutely everything up the highest the law allows. Council Tax is up. Affordable rents are up. Councillor allowances are up. All while the Lib Dems continue to pay council staff not to work.
“What message does that give off to our residents, who will be seeing their biggest bills going up and up, knowing their hard-earned money is paying for council staff to have a fully-paid day off every week?
“To be doing this to our residents at a time when council staff are being paid not to work is disgraceful.”
