AS revealed in a press report on January 1, Wyre Forest District Council has begun the "softening-up process" on the local electorate, preparing us for a significant increase in the Council Tax for the new financial year.
A national survey revealed at the end of the year that the cost of owning and running a home rose three times greater than the rate of inflation.
Much of this increase was attributed to Council Tax and price rises in water, gas and electricity.
Government recently gave local councils an extra £400 million to help cushion Council Tax rises.
Ministers called for councils to keep tax rises to low, single figures, closer to the rate of inflation.
If councils demanded large increases, as in previous years, then local electorates should be offered referenda to choose high, medium or low rises.
This method was successfully employed in a few areas of the UK last year.
Since our local council was keen enough to offer a referendum on the introduction of their waste recycling scheme last year, let us hope, perhaps demand, that the referendum option on their Council Tax demands be offered to local taxpayers.
TONY WARD
Muskoka
Bewdley
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