Green Party councillors have criticised the "short-sighted" decision by Warwick District Council not to increase council tax.

At a meeting of the full council last night members voted down a Green-led amendment to put up council tax by £5 for 2022/23.

Instead the Conservative-led leadership, with the support of the Labour and the Whitnash Residents Association groups, approved a freeze on WDC's portion of council tax for next year.

All eight Green Party members voted against the proposal saying the council "must be able to meet its responsibilities".

"The council is facing one of its toughest budgets this year with the cost-of-living crisis and an inflation rate at its highest for 30 years," said Cllr Will Roberts.

"The impacts of Covid on the council's revenue and, yet again central government failing to deliver much needed funding to local authorities, means that some tough decisions have to be made.

"The council itself will see rising costs over the next year with inflation expected to hit 7 per cent, according to the Bank of England.

"The Conservatives have failed to take a long-term view on Council finances."

Without the increase of 9.6p per week for Band D properties, the council will lose out on £282,000 annually.

And with WDC already announcing new green bin charges, and putting up parking charges, Green councillors have warned that there could be serious consequences for missing out on over £1million in the next four years.

"With inflation so high, freezing council tax may lead to a big reduction in services in years to come," added group leader Ian Davidson.

"For this year, we should focus on insulating our leakiest homes and buildings, as that's good for reducing fuel poverty, tackling the climate emergency, and, unless peace breaks out in Ukraine, reducing issues caused by Europe's dependence on Russian gas."

But Council leader Cllr Andrew Day (Con, Bishop's Tachbrook) said that finances were in a good place after extra government funding for green projects had been secured.

"We have more than adequate reserves to ensure that we protect our services," he said.

"The action we take tonight by not increasing our council tax says to our residents 'we're with you'.

"We understand the tough choices families have to make every single day and will have to make for some years to come as we come out of a pandemic, economic crisis, war in Ukraine and everything else that gets thrown at us."

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