DEVON COUNCIL 'CONFUSED AND MISLEADING' IN COUNCIL TAX CONSULTATION

A Devon council has been accused of misleading residents in a new consultation it launched about planned increases to Council Tax this year.

Teignbridge Council launched its quest to find out what people think about an inflation-busting 3.2% increase from this April a few days before Christmas.

But the council is accused of misleading residents because the on-line consultation claims this would be the first increase after five years when the council tax hasn't gone up at all.

However, the truth is that this will be the second year of a maximum £5 increase, say the opposition Liberal Democrats and they have asked for the consultation to be re-started and any responses received so far discarded.

Cllr Alan Connett, former Leader of Teignbridge Council, said:" This is yet another example of the chaos at the council. It is confused and misleading.

"Despite what they claim, the truth is the Conservative run council went for the maximum increase in Council Tax last year. It was a 3.3% increase - the maximum the Government would allow at £5 a year.

"They want to do the same again from April - charge the maximum £5 but what are they doing with the money - £125,000 spent on doing up the council chamber, some significant pay rises for top management, and we're getting reports of chaos in places over the Christmas refuse arrangements," added Cllr Connett.

He has contacted the council today asking for any responses received to the misleading consultation to be disregarded and believes the consultation on Council Tax increase should be started afresh, with the correct information.

"At the moment, residents may take a different view if they think this is the first increase for several years. It's not. In fact, its the second year for a planned maximum increase. It's a rather different story from the one the council is painting," said Cllr Connett.