New Clause 31
Greater London Authority Bill
12:15 pm
Michael Gove (Shadow Minister (Housing), Communities and Local Government; Surrey Heath, Conservative)
I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.
Almost the best point in favour of new clause 31 was made in passing, but with some eloquence, by my hon. Friend the Member for Hammersmith and Fulham. He pointed out earlier that the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is about to extend to those wise enough to vote for its current administration—and to those who do not vote for it—a 3 per cent. reduction in the council tax. That is a remarkable achievement. However, any resident of the borough who anticipates paying less will be gravely disappointed when the total bill is presented to them. As we all know, the likely GLA precept is to be 5 per cent. above the current level that is being paid, so the savings of Hammersmith and Fulham will be wiped out by Mayor Ken’s extravagance.
We believe that the new clause would ensure that, for busy council tax payers, it was clear where responsibility lay when a local authority was lowering its council tax, but the Mayor is increasing the burden. It is understandable when a council tax bill comes in and we see at the top of the bill the crest of our respective local borough that we are inclined to think, “Bloody Westminster” or, “Dear me, Hounslow has been overspending again”, when in fact Westminster and Hounslow may have been keeping their own houses in order, but have to act, in effect, as tax gatherers for the Mayor.