Westminster freezes its share of the council tax (if only Ken could do the same)

2008/2009 Conservative Westminster Council Tax: £687.02 (+0.9% due to Mayor)

2008/2009 Labour Lambeth Council Tax: £1,235.11 (+4.0%)

2008/2009 Liberal Democrat Islington Council Tax: £1,248.23 (+2.4%)

Over the last couple of weeks the council tax bills for 2008/2009 have been dropping through letterboxes across Maida Vale. And the really good news is that the share of that bill taken by Westminster Council has been frozen, thanks to the votes of Conservative Councillors, for the upcoming year (remaining at £377.80 for a Band D property). Yet again, every single Labour Councillor voted against the freeze.

As local councillors we wanted to freeze the council tax because we are acutely aware of how people's budgets are coming under tremendous pressure from rises in the price of food, energy, the cost of living and, unjustifiably, from the rising tax burden imposed by Gordon Brown.

Overall, council tax in Westminster this year will rise by 0.9% to £687.02 (Band D property) - the rise solely down to the Mayor who, in his wisdom, is taking an extra £6.02 a year from hardworking families and individuals.

Westminster council tax remains the second lowest in the country - and, as your local councillors, we are working hard to keep it that way.

Lee