The council tax - set to rise by nearly 17 per cent this year - should be scrapped, according to a leading Essex councillor.

The predicted 16.7 per cent rise will push the amount paid by Band D householders up to nearly £900.

This does not take into account further increases in the portions asked for by district, borough and parish councils and the Essex Police Authority.

Ken Jones, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Essex County Council, said: "The Government this week announced a major review of local government.

"Rather than tinkering at the edges of local government finance, the Government should look at abolishing council tax altogether.

"If this unfair tax was replaced with a local income tax, related to ability to pay, then councils would raise a much larger proportion of their own income."

Rodney Bass (Con, Tollesbury), cabinet member for finance and resources, admitted: "This council tax is far too high but the fact is that Essex has effectively been penalised by the Government.

"We are aware that Essex people want to keep the council tax as low as possible, but we also know that they feel that core services need to be maintained at a high quality level."

The predicted rise is set to be agreed by county councillors at a meeting on February 18.

The increase raises the average council tax bill from £767.88 a year to £896.40 a year.

Labour Party spokesman and Colchester borough councillor Tim Young, said: "This just proves the miss-management of the county council's budget by the Tories and shatters the illusion of the Tories as a low taxation party."

Published Monday, January 27, 2003

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