Tories claimed council tax levels in Barnet could rise by up to eight per cent following this week's announcement of central government grants to local authorities.

Barnet Council will get more than £203million in the revenue support grant from the local government finance settlement for 2002/03, a rise of 6.8 per cent, according to Hendon MP Andrew Dismore.

Each year local authorities receive a set amount of funding from the Government and have to make up the shortfall in the amount they want to spend through the council tax. It remains to be seen how much bills will rise in Barnet next year but early estimates predict an average increase for Band D properties in London of about £45.

Barnet's Labour council leader, Councillor Alan Williams said the Government had been generous to local authorities: "We welcome the settlement which gives us the means to continue to deliver and improve the quality of services for the people of Barnet.

"But no matter how generous the settlement may be, it does not mean that we can stop our continuous drive to make efficiency and value for money savings in the services we provide."

Conservative spokesman for council resources, Councillor Anthony Finn, predicted an increase of up to eight per cent in council tax bills next year, taking into account council funding for police, fire services and the Greater London Authority. "The writing is on the wall for an increase way above inflation," he said. "That is worrying when people's income is not going up as quickly."

Mr Dismore said there was no reason for substantial tax increases next year. "We gave a lot of extra money for the current year, and the indication is that that money will be forthcoming for further years," he said.

December 5, 2001 18:46

JULIAN HILLS