David Morris MP has received a reply from Government in response to his petition to Parliament on behalf of 3919 responses from local Morecambe homes from a survey to over 14,000 homes regarding Morecambe Town Council’s controversial increase in Council Tax.
In the official Observation to Petition P002899 Morecambe Town Council,
Petition of residents of the United Kingdom, David Morris MP,
DLUHC, observation provided by: Simon Hoare MP It states:
“Council tax is set by local authorities, including town and parish councils, which decide what level of council tax they need to raise, taking into account their individual circumstances.
Each year the Government sets council tax referendum principles for different types of local authority. Where the authority wishes to set an increase above the level of the principle it must be approved by local voters in a referendum. The referendum principles strike a balance by giving local authorities the flexibility to raise council tax bills to meet spending pressures, without overburdening council taxpayers.
Following consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement for
2024-25, the Government has decided to continue its approach of not applying referendum principles to town and parish councils. However, this comes with a clear expectation that these councils will take all available steps to mitigate the need for council tax increases and that the Government will see clear evidence of restraint.
The Government expects authorities to take their other resources into account before setting increases. Decisions taken by town and parish councils in 2024-25 will be taken into account by the Government when considering referendum principles in future years”
The full content of David Morris MP petition to Parliament can be read here :
David Morris says;
“This is a clear declaration from Government that MTC have been put on notice to demonstrate to both the taxpayers and residents of Morecambe that their astronomical council tax rise last year to buy Frontierland for an extra precept of £1m which the Liberal and Labour run Town Council this year have kept to one side in reserves must be addressed.”
This has come on the back of the peaceful demonstration outside the Town Hall in Morecambe on 20th March before the Town Council session started where members of the public with Mr Morris MP in attendance, held a banner that stated:
FRONTIERLAND TAX
MORECAMBE TOWN COUNCIL - GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK-YOU’VE ROBBED US!
Some members of the public were allowed to address the Town Council with questions that were less than happy with their transparency”
David Morris MP added;
“Tonight I have been at Morecambe Town Hall supporting residents who are fed up with Morecambe Town Councils finances. They put up Council tax last year by 231% to create a fund to buy Frontierland, even though it was never for sale. They have realised that now but instead of giving money back to residents they want to keep it. It’s totally unacceptable and the Labour and Liberal Town Council who have stolen this money from people need to find a way to give it back. I fully support residents in their efforts and will do everything in my power to help them bring the Council to account.”
It is understood a separate letter has just gone to Minister Simon Hoare MP this evening from the Town Council weeks after the Town Council have sanctioned it and have received it.
Mr Morris MP understands that it has unwarranted personal attack content to him, for exposing the Town Councils own public record in Parliament that is from their own information and historic press releases. Mr Morris MP says : “They have already missed the boat” as he has already replied and addressed those unfounded concerns to the Minister directly.”
