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Council tax payers' money for Bath Theatre Royal: Tory priorities - a few rather than B&NES' hard-pressed many
Commenting on budget plans by Conservative-run Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES), which includes a grant from council tax of £50,000 - 100,000 towards the refurbishment of Bath’s Theatre Royal, Labour MP Dan Norris (North East Somerset) said:
“This tells us all we need to know about Conservative priorities. While the impact of global recession continues to bite ordinary families, Tory minds are elsewhere. They choose to spend tens of thousands of pounds on a theatre that benefits the relatively few, rather than on the many hard-pressed council tax payers right across North East Somerset and Bath.
“The arts and culture are important. But right now, given the financial challenges faced by local council tax payers, the Theatre Royal can wait. Many ordinary families across North East Somerset would love to be able redecorate and refurbish their homes. But they know it is not prudent to do so when money is tight. Instead they concentrate on the most pressing financial concerns. Tory B&NES should take note – and remember - it’s not their money, it’s ours.
“Meanwhile local Tories are intent on axeing local youth services, and slashing vital education and social services budgets. The Conservatives want the burden of global recession to fall on young people and vulnerable adults because they are the easiest targets. They may be less vocal than theatre-goers - but they are more important. The most vulnerable must come before non-essential entertainment for the relatively few.
“B&NES Tories’ plans are a helpful reminder of past Tory governments - and an indication of what would happen were there to be another one. There would be immediate public service cuts and tax hikes for ordinary working people – but an Inheritance Tax cut for the five richest multi-millionaire families in each constituency.”
Dan continued: “To mask their own shortcomings, as usual B&NES Tory councillors are pretending the Government ‘underfunds’ B&NES. It’s nonsense. This is actually the thirteenth straight year authorities are getting above-inflation increases in Government grant – up £1.5 million for B&NES this year alone.
“B&NES complain other Councils get more Government money than them, overlooking key facts. Up the road from us in Bristol, many more households are exempt from Council Tax - because of higher unemployment, for example. In relatively affluent B&NES - where house prices have held up better and unemployment remains relatively low - a much higher proportion of households pay full Council Tax. This provides B&NES with very significant funds, direct from our pockets, they chose not to mention. For the Government not take local tax take into account when allocating funding would be wrong, favouring rich areas at the expense of the poorest. That would be like the Tories’ priority plans to cut Inheritance Tax for 3,000 multi-millionaires, with ordinary people facing immediate service cuts." Tory Councillor Malcolm Hanney, who has responsibility for B&NES Council finances, has declared that he is a Director of the Theatre Royal (use this link to read this declaration). Details of the B&NES Tory budget plans, with the Bath Theatre Royal proposal on page 9, can be found here (PDF file)
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