Tory Porkies - They're at it Again!

In addiction services, the definition of insanity, it is said, is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Last year, as I campaigned to be your councillor for the Pinhoe ward on Exeter City Council, Exeter Tories' campaign was always negative, often personal and - ultimately - a complete failure. You may recall last year's Tory campaign leaflets. No vision, no sense of leadership, and - as the Tory government's unpopularity grew - often no Conservative branding!

Well, they're at it again. 

This year there are no City Council elections, but the Devon County Council elections will be taking place in May, and the Tories are clearly moving on to their usual election footing, as out comes this:

Let's deal with these Tory Porkies.

"End Council Tax Benefit". No. The fact is that the coalition government has given local authorities 10% less to fund Council Tax Support schemes (previously Council Tax Benefit.) However, they told local authorities that pensioners must be protected from any cuts - therefore a higher proportion of cut would be felt by other recipients, or - if authorities wanted to keep their same level of support - they would have to cut council services, or raise revenue in other ways. 

I pointed this out on Twitter to Exeter Tories, and got the following response: 

"Acted in spite" and "disgraceful", says Exeter Tories. Well, says their election agent Councillor Neil Wilson from - er - Newton Abbot. 

Exeter City Council has been forced to cut this support by 20%. Well, I would say that, right? I'm a Labour Councillor after all. The problem for Exeter Tories and their "local" agent Neil is that Exeter Labour's view is shared by the Conservative Chair of the Local Government Association, and Leader of Kensington & Chelsea Council (hardly a hotbed of socialism!) Sir Merrick Cockell:

Tory Chair of the LGA,
Sir Merrick Cockell

"The 10 per cent cut in funding has left many councils with little choice but to reduce the council tax discount offered to people on low incomes. The only other option is to take money away from other services or types of council tax payer to maintain the current levels of financial support.

"Councils are working hard to protect the most vulnerable and needy members of society but, as we warned when the cut was first proposed by the Government, this means that other benefit recipients will have to carry a larger share of the cut.

"Local authorities, which currently collect more than 97 per cent of council tax in the year it is billed, are concerned about the possible impact on collection rates and the knock-on effect it will have on council finances."

Nor is Exeter alone. Tory-run Mid Devon and East Devon are also imposing forced 20% cuts, while Tory councils in Torridge, North Devon and Torbay are introducing 25% cuts! I wonder if Exeter Tories feel those authorities are "disgraceful" and "spiteful" too? Or was this (yet again) just negative, cheap politicking from the Nasty Party?

"Raise Council Tax" Yes. Exeter Council's precept as part of your Council Tax is going up by £5. That's per year. That's an extra 41.6p per month. 9.6p per week, or 1.4p per day. Yes, that equates to 4%, but that's because Exeter's Council Tax starts from a very low point. The lowest in Devon, and one of the lowest in the country. 

This extra revenue protects front line services that we all depend on. It means that we are able to invest in our city, including much-needed flood defences. Yet reading Exeter Tories' leaflets you would think any increase in Council Tax was against their principles. In another tweet they were at pains to point out that Tory-led Devon County Council were freezing Council Tax this year. (There just happens to be DCC elections this year, too!)

Tory PCC Tony Hogg
- increasing Council Tax

What they DON'T tell you is that the part of your Council Tax that funds Devon & Cornwall Police - the police precept - is going up by the maximum 2%, or £3.19, a decision by the directly-elected Conservative Police & Crime Commissioner, Tony Hogg. (Remember him?!)

Cllr John Tucker
- increasing Council Tax

They also neglect to mention that Tory-led South Hams Council is taking advantage of exactly the same dispensation given by government to LOW TAX authorities like Exeter to increase Council Tax by up to £5. South Hams Council Leader, Tory  Councillor John Tucker said:

"South Hams is one of the few councils being allowed to do this simply because of its past successes in keeping its council tax so low. Councils in the same position as us are being allowed to raise their council tax by up to a fiver a year. Tax payers do not want to see front line services cut. With this increase there will be no cuts to vital services."

If Exeter Council were take the 1% bribe from Eric Pickles to keep freezing Council Tax, with what is already one of the lowest bases in the country, we will - in real terms - keep falling behind financially, and will be unable to sustain services for local people. This bribe to freeze tax is - as a Cornish Councillor recently said - "A self-defeating equivalent of a pay-day loan for councils." 

"At a time when more money is being pumped into the city from Central Government than ever before..." Er, no.

Labour-led Exeter continues to attract inward investment

Exeter's adjusted core grant from government is DOWN this coming year by 5.4%. However, well-run local authorities can "earn" extra income by retaining a greater proportion of local business rates (50%), and by collecting New Homes Bonus revenue for growth and development.

Fortunately for Exeter, under Labour the city is doing well - despite a triple-dip recession looming courtesy of the coalition government. Exeter is one of the country's fastest-growing cities, with inward investment rising. Exeter's retail vacancy rate is less than half the national average, and the city is in the top 2% of UK towns and cities for job creation. We have the University of the Year, the College of the Year, and the Museum of the Year. So, thanks to Exeter Labour's effective and efficient management of the City and its resources, our "spending power" will be UP this coming year. But this is thanks to our thriving businesses and growth - NOT thanks to national government grants!

Under Labour, Exeter has remained resilient in the face of national economic turbulence, and despite Osborne's failed economic plan. No wonder Exeter Tories have so little to say, and are reduced - once again - to pumping out desperate and cynical electioneering materials.

It didn't work last time. It won't work this time.

Exeter is doing too well under Exeter Labour. Join us. 



Tuesday 26th February was the Exeter City Council's Full Council meeting to debate the proposed budget from Exeter Labour. Surely the Tories wouldn't try these same arguments in the Council chamber, would they...? Report to follow....