The draft Trafford Council Budget proposed to be implemented next year brings unwelcome news for Stretford and Urmston residents. Labour is planning on hiking your Council Tax up by an inflation-busting 3.99%. That would take the average Council Tax bill (for a Band D property) up to £1,788 and that doesn’t take account of the likely increases in precepts for the fire and police services which would push the tax bill up even further. What is even more alarming is that Labour have revealed their plans to increase your Council Tax by a similar percentage right up to 2027.
Under the last Conservative administration, the average Band D Council Tax charge was £1,486 and Trafford had the lowest Council Tax rates in Greater Manchester, which is now no longer the case. Residents will be asking for what exactly are they paying more under Labour? Labour also want to inflict more costs on local residents through proposals for a review of residents parking permits and parking charges to bring in an extra £100,000 to the council. Another year of increased car parking charges will damage our town centres further as they struggle to recover from impact of the Covid pandemic. With Labour, it really is a case of pay more and get less. Stretford and Urmston residents deserve better than that.
