The Tory councils planning a Council Tax rise

First the good news. A Sunday Telegraph survey finds that five Conservative councils are proposing Council Tax cuts in the coming financial year. They identify Hammersmith and Fulham, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, South Holland district council in Lincs, South Oxfordshire
district council and Uttlesford district council in Essex.

There is also, which they don't mention, the cut in the Mayor of London's Council Tax precept.

The bad news is that they also report ten Conservative councils are contemplating an increase.  Those they name are Canterbury in Kent, and Reigate and Banstead, Elmbridge and Runnymede in Surrey.

The BBC reports that Conservative/Independent Cornwall plans a referendum-dodging 1.97% increase. The Council leader Cllr Jim Currie says "there is no other real option." What about cutting councillors allowances rather than increasing them by 20%? What about reinstating Cllr Alec Robertson as leader with his bold plans for £150 million efficiency savings, over 10 years, through a partnership with BT?

It is also reported that Aylesbury Vale proposes a Council Tax rise.

Remember that the final decision on Council Tax is taken by all councillors voting at a full council meeting. Conservative councillors should be encouraged to vote against even if their leadership is proposing it.