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Tory councillor quits over Council Tax rise

Cllr Michael Fletcher, of Bretton South Ward on Peterborough City Council, has resigned the Conservative whip to sit as an independent. Cllr Fletcher says he will continue to support the Conservatives nationally bit that he was "embarrassed" by the Conservative council's plans to increase the Council Tax by 2.95% which left him in an "untenable" position.

Four years ago Cllr Fletcher had a key role in saving Westcombe Engineering Services. This firm predominantly employs disabled workers and was Council-run and faced closure. But instead it was possible for it to continue as an independent social enterprise.

Cllr Fletcher has also challenged the lack of accountability over the Council's (exceptionally high) consultancy bill of £8.5 million a year.

No wonder that Cllr Fletcher is unconvinced by the lazy defeatism of his colleagues that a Council Tax rise is "unavoidable." But what a terrible state of affairs that this clearly excellent Conservative councillor feels unable to remain a member of the Conservative Group.

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