Greens only party to propose and vote for no council tax increase – yet again
A brief update on tonight’s full council:
1. Burnley Conservatives proposed taking £90k out of the £100k already set aside for accessibility in the council chamber including audio, video and physical alterations to make the characterful but inaccessible chamber suitable for disabled people.
Councillor Martyn Hurt said “It’s an absolute disgrace that they want to block disabled people, like me, from gaining access to the chamber and taking part in democracy. Only last month, Burnley Council unanimously passed a motion on making our streets accessible for all, yet barely a month later the Tories want to keep the council chamber inaccessible.
It’s incredible in this day and age that there are people in elected position within the Conservative Party with these out-dated and unwelcoming views.”
2. Only the Green Party proposed that the council tax should not be increased. Greens believe that council tax is a regressive tax and that in a cost of living crisis it is too much to ask those in Burnley to pay in many cases three or four times more than those with million pound mansions in the south pay for council tax.
Green Group Leader, Scott Cunliffe said “It’s disappointing that councillors don’t properly invest in the Green Economy to increase prosperity and job prospects for local people, whilst also bringing in much needed funds to the council. Instead, they have the same old strategy of putting council tax up to the max to replenish council coffers. The Conservatives who raised council tax by 4% on Lancashire County Council but claim to vote against rises in Burnley, didn’t support our amendment to prevent a rise.”
3. Our Green Group amendment to support King Charles Coronation with crowdfunders and fundraisers by the community in order to stop a proposed cut by the Labour and Lib Dem coalition of £10,000 to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau given the cost of living crisis and the need for support for residents also fell.
Councillor Sarah Hall said “King Charles himself says he doesn’t want money diverted from the public purse and instead wants communities to come together. The virtue signalling from the establishment parties is going to mean people in desperate need cannot get the advice they need. Our amendment supported both so it is political posturing that it was not supported”