Conservatives promise to freeze council tax

The group has tabled budget proposals which would lead to a freeze in council tax for every household in the district for the 2010-11 financial year.

In addition to 2.5m of extra funding to support adult services, the Conservatives have proposed creating a 5m strategic reserve to "ensure the council can continue to respond to the changing economic circumstances and task the management of the authority, through the present organisational review, to drive out even greater efficiencies and make the best possible savings for local residents in the years ahead".

The proposals also include increases in funding in areas including highways, gritting, recycling and community halls.

Conservative Group Leader Coun Kris Hopkins, who unveiled the Conservative proposals yesterday, said: "We have been very conscious of the ongoing financial restraints not only on the council but, more importantly, on local residents and that is underlined by our desire to see a freeze in council tax for the next 12 months.

"Given that a Conservative government, if elected, has already committed to funding any council tax rises of up to 2.5 per cent for all local authorities who stay at or below that figure for its first two years in office, we hope Bradford district residents will therefore enjoy an effective three-year freeze on their bills.

"Adult services are very much a priority for the Conservatives, as evidenced by the 2.5m of additional funding we have made available to ensure that the needs of older residents in the district will continue to be extremely well catered for.

"A few weeks ago we allocated 300,000 to fix potholes across the district following the long cold snap. But we must think into the longer term so, in addition to an extra 300,000 in one-off monies, we have increased the amount of funding going to highways by 800,000 on a permanent basis."

But the council leader acknowledged the Tories must work with Bradford's other political groups. He said: "As a hung council, I am obviously fully aware that we must work with the other political parties to find an agreed way ahead."