Leader claims 'fake news' in clash over council tax in Hartlepool

Cllr Shane Moore, the leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said the proposed budget for 2021/22 will in fact feature a council tax freeze.

It comes after the Hartlepool Labour Party claimed the Independent Union and Conservative Coalition, which leads the council, had published budget proposals which included ‘a 5% hike in council tax’.

Cllr Moore, Independent Union representative and leader of the coalition, labelled this ‘fake news’ and ‘political spin’.

“It has come to our attention that the Labour Party have made a false claim that the Independent Union led Coalition is proposing a 5% council tax increase,” he said in a post on Facebook.

“We can absolutely 100% guarantee that this is once again fake news and the worst type of political spin coming from the Hartlepool Labour Party as they desperately campaign for an election when everybody else is putting politics aside and working together through a national pandemic.

“Our proposed budget this year proposes a council tax freeze – as we stated back in July 2020.”

The Hartlepool Independent Union and Conservative groups both echoed the plans for a council tax freeze, with posts responding to the claims on social media.

A statement from Cllr Brenda Harrison, leader of the Labour Group, claimed a budget including a 5% council tax rise would represent ‘a profound failure by the Independent/Tory leadership of the council’.

She said: “The Labour Party believes we need change and the cycle of government cuts and council tax hikes that puts an ever-increasing burden on Hartlepool families is unsustainable.

“We will always fight to protect jobs and services, but as we face the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, we need to give local people a break.”

She added: “Piling a council tax rise on top of everything else that our families are facing right now is simply unacceptable.

“Therefore, in its current form, the Labour Party will not support this budget and will vote against the proposed increase in council tax.”

She added a 5% council tax increase would indicate the leading coalition had ‘failed to innovate in balancing the budget’ and ‘failed to secure proper support from colleagues in national government’.

A report from the council’s director of resources and development Chris Little on the budget is to go before the finance and policy committee on Monday, January 25.

It outlines the financial impact of various levels of council tax increases, along with a freeze.

Councillors on the committee will at the meeting make a recommendation on the council tax level for 2021/22, which will then go before a full council meeting for final approval.

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