Council tax to rise as mayor is defeated again

PLANS to cut council tax in Doncaster were dealt a fatal blow yesterday after the town’s elected mayor was defeated by councillors a second time.

Controversial English Democrat mayor Peter Davies unveiled a budget last month which would have seen bills fall by three per cent in 2010/11.

But the scheme was immediately rubbished by other councillors, who said it was “irresponsible” after the town’s services had been criticised.

Bills will now rise by 2.95 per cent from April, after an alternative budget was proposed and accepted pushing up a bill on a band D property by 40p per week.

Doncaster Council has been at the centre of national criticism for months after serious failings emerged in its ability to safeguard vulnerable children.

Seven youngsters known to social services in the town have died and further problems in children’s services were highlighted by the shocking Edlington attacks.

A specialist team from the Government’s Audit Commission is currently working at the council offices to try to find out what went wrong.

Critics of the mayor’s budget seized on those facts when urging councillors to reject his council tax cut, saying more money was needed, not less.

They also fixed on portions of a report by the council’s senior finance officer Steve Mawson, which expressed doubts about the drop in council tax.

The mayor’s measures were intially defeated at a meeting on Monday February 22, and he and his cabinet were given a statutory five days to respond.

At a second meeting of Doncaster’s full council yesterday afternoon, Mr Davies said he had “removed some efficiencies” and proposed a cut of 2.6 per cent.

He admitted he had made a “mistake” when deciding to increase school meal costs and announced that they would be frozen at the current rate, which would cost the council 300,000.

But he said he remained committed to cutting council tax adding: “We live in difficult times. Other tax rises are expected and there will be public spending cuts. To put council tax up now would be, in my view, totally irresponsible.”

Despite the mayor’s concessions, 45 members of the council voted against his proposals, with just 12, including the Tory group, supporting him.

The alternative budget, which was proposed by the chairman of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee Coun John Mounsey was carried by a vote of 42 to 15.

During the meeting Coun Mounsey said the committee had a cross-party membership and had come to the decision to increase tax after much discussion.

He said the mayor’s budget was too risky and added: “I note that the mayor admitted that he had made a mistake in his figures. Well, there is no mistake in ours whatsoever.

“This represents a balanced budget, there are no doubts and no risks whatsoever, and will allow the council to make tough decisions to prepare for tougher times to come.”

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Davies said: “It is the typical socialist approach to things, which is to throw money at them and worry about the consequences later.

“Members of this council are like compulsive gamblers, the only difference is that most gamblers get through their own money before using someone else’s.

“I am now going to have to work with this and the people of Doncaster will have to pay for it, and no doubt they will make their voices heard at the ballot box.”

n Council tax bills in Wakefield are to increase by 2.4 per cent.

Members of Wakefield Council have approved their budget, which will see properties in Band D pay 1,100.59 in 2010/11.

The 2.4 per cent increase does not include police, fire, town or parish council precepts.

Council leader Peter Box said: “This has been another challenging budget but we believe it strikes a balance between providing the services people want while keeping the council tax rise to a minimum.”