I READ the article regarding the latest on Eastleigh Borough Council’s proposed bail out of the Rose Bowl, with the comments from Robert Oxley of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, with whom I agree, and the response from council leader Keith House (Daily Echo, December 5).
Cllr House’s claim that efficiencies and income from property assets is the reason for the council’s “unequalled record of keeping council tax below inflation for eight years”, is political spin.
The facts are the citizens of Eastleigh borough have been paying more in pounds and pence over many years than those of other councils in Hampshire. An awful lot can be covered up by referring to increases in percentage terms. Then to claim a second tax-freeze year when this is Government policy is beyond me.
However, he has implemented tax increases through the parish council levy, burial charges, parking permits and increased parking charges, pest control charges, and allotment rents increased 60 per cent last year – all these can be labelled stealth taxes.
KEN WELLSTOOD, Eastleigh.
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