Is tax consultation just PR?

3.27.42pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 7th Nov 2006

David Mills is worried that this consultation is just a PR exercise

The Borough Council has announced its plans to consult on next year's budget and council tax by carrying out interviews with 300 local residents. These surveys are to be carried out face to face and will last around 45 minutes.

"Last year," said local Lib Dem leader, Councillor David Mills, "the Tory cabinet was able to effectively ignore the views of local people on the budget because only 19 residents commented due to poor advertising. At the time, local Lib Dems carried out our own survey of people's views - which the Tories happily ignored.

"I am relieved if the Council is beginning to take consultation more seriously following pressure from local Lib Dems - their record is incredibly poor" said Councillor Mills. "However, if this is just a PR exercise, it will be a huge waste of time and money. The Tories MUST listen to the results for it to be worthwhile!"

What if you aren't one of the 'lucky' 300?! And will residents' views actually be taken into account this time when they haven't been in the past?

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