Gavin Williamson MP for South Staffordshire praised South Staffordshire District Council for consistently keeping council tax increases at 0% during a debate in the House of Commons Chamber yesterday afternoon.
Intervening during a point on local government funding, Gavin Williamson MP praised the local council on its consistent level of council tax unlike nearby Labour local authorities by saying:
“In my area, Tory-run South Staffordshire council is keeping the council tax increase at 0%, and so is Staffordshire county council. The situation is not the same with many neighbouring Labour-run local authorities. Does my right hon. Friend agree that it comes down to political will? Some councils want low council tax, and others do not care about their constituents.”
Minister of State for Housing and Local Government Grant Shapps responded by saying:
“My hon. Friend is absolutely right to point out that where there is a will, there is a way. Where there is transparency, the sharing of services and smarter procurement, there is a way. Not a single authority is suffering a reduction of more than 8.8%, and the average is 3.3%. There is no reason for them to be increasing council tax.”