Council takes more tax - and earlier too!

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 29th Mar 2007

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has increased its council tax by 4.99%, just under the maximum permitted under new government rules. The above inflation rise is due to a shortfall in the Council's budget of almost £900,000 according to officials.

"The council is still proudly saying it has the lowest council tax in Kent" said St John Lib Dem Councillor Simon Bannister. "Yet it is now increasing tax by the maximum permitted amount, for the second year running, to cover a huge hole in its finances. This smacks of desperation - and we are still not getting value for money."

Liberal Democrat controlled Southborough Town Council has announced a below inflation increase of only 2.43%, with no cuts in frontline services.

On top of the increase, residents across the borough will be paying their council tax a month earlier than in previous years, to bring Tunbridge Wells into line with other authorities.

"Instead of the usual two month break from paying council tax, residents will only get one this year" said Councillor Simon Bannister "We are told nobody will end up paying more in the long run, but that doesn't help people on tight budgets - residents should have been told six months ago that this was going to happen!"