Friday, 6 February 2009

Council Tax Rise Leaked to Local Press

Reading's Council Tax will rise by 4.24% this year.

At least it will if the minority Labour party group get their way, according to reports in the local press.

The announcement comes as council's across the county announce their budgets for the upcoming financial year. Maidenhead were the first to declare, stating that their rise would amount to 2.9% on an average house.

Labour Leader Jo Lovelock told the Evening Post, "this year’s budget is more challenging than usual."

Reading Chronicle takes a slightly different angle, highlighting the impact on council jobs.

Oranjepan says:
1.9% in an election year, 4.24% in a year when there are no council elections in Reading - say no more!

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Click here for a full comparison of Council Tax rises in the different local authorities across Berkshire.

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous6 February 2009 at 12:19

    Not leaked to local press. Figures are in Cabinet papers

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oranjepan6 February 2009 at 12:49

    Were Cllr Lovelock's comments in the Cabinet papers too?

    D'you think Cllr Lovelock was gossiping in the corridors or was she making a formal statement to the press?

    How is it possible to judge the appropriateness of political relationships with the media unless the context is explained?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Was6 February 2009 at 14:12

    That's odd. I was told that there was strict embargo until this afternoon.

    Is Anonymous saying that councillors are embargoed but that the press isn't?

    It seems an odd way to run a council.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oranjepan6 February 2009 at 15:02

    I don't buy the local paper every day - can someone tell me whether it was in last night's REP, or is this merely a website thing?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Was6 February 2009 at 15:11

    It's on page 2 of today's, so it was given to them yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous7 February 2009 at 11:35

    anonymous - the Cabinet papers were published at 5pm or so Friday evening. I was briefed on the budget on a strictly embargoed basis (and not given a set of the figures). It is clear Cllr Lovelock made a formal statement to the press.

    So it was the usual two fingers to the council, and spin coming ahead of substance.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous7 February 2009 at 13:51

    or, that the EP overlooked the embargo? Better check your facts first eh?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oranjepan7 February 2009 at 14:43

    Anon, please explain how you came by the cabinet papers before they were published.

    ReplyDelete

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