Farron welcomes proposed council tax freeze

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has today congratulated Lib Dem run South Lakeland District Council for proposing to freeze council tax for the third year in a row.

This freeze compares positively to many other councils in the county who plan to raise tax. Labour run Copeland and Barrow Councils are both proposing a 1.9 per cent increase from April and Conservative-led Eden are proposing a 1.99% increase in tax.

Both are just below the 2% required to trigger a referendum on the issue. This means that the Liberal Democrats in Cumbria are the only party that has not increased council tax this year.

The government has set aside a £450 million fund to pay for local government in England to freeze Council Tax in 2013 to 2014. Many other councils have rejected that funding and decided to ask local residents for more funding.

Tim said: "I welcome the news that the Lib Dems on South Lakeland District Council have frozen council tax for the third year in a row. With living costs rising and incomes under pressure, it is right that the council protects residents from an unwelcome council tax rise."