A Small Freeze in an Arctic Blast

10.27.00am GMT Mon 2nd Mar 2009

Lambeth Labour politicians are currently working themselves into a lather of cod-generosity over their freeze in Council Tax. Is this really as generous as they make out? Or even that unusual?

After all the last Lib Dem budget in 2006 had a freeze - roundly condemned by Labour at the time. Labour likes to characterise the 2002-2006 Council as a high tax council - yet Council Tax rises were generally much higher than today because Government grant to Councils was lower and, in Lambeth's case, Labour left office with massive debt. Lambeth Council Tax levels under the Lib Dems reflected a Government requirement to pay-off that debt - yet it was still lower than many neighbouring Labour Councils.

So much for history. What of today? This year 13 London Boroughs, plus the GLA, announced a Council Tax Freeze while Hammersmith & Fulham announced a cut. Labour Lambeth's so-called generosity now looks a bit thin - especially after closer scrutiny of its budget.Amazingly they've not managed to sort out a budget at all in the Cultural Services Department - a situation that's almost unheard of. Expect slashing cuts in libraries and parks budgets any time soon.

Meanwhile, finance officers suggest that the Council Tax freeze this year and next (as proposed) leaves a whopping £11 Million shortfall.

Lib Dems feel that things are now so tough for Lambeth residents that our proposal was to give every resident £91.69 back in their pockets to help them through the crisis. Labour by contrast posted the highest percentage Council Tax increases in the Capital two years running,raised car parking charges and fines massively,issued bruising rent and energy bill increases, and posted the highest care charges in the country.

Labour, of course, claimed our budget didn't stack up - yet these are the same people who lost a staggering £22 Million this year of your money in the Housing department alone. They also said our plan to help you out in a crisis was reckless. Officials said our total budget figures were actually more prudent than theirs.

Labour likes to use the slogan "We're on your side." So who is on your side now?