Government Minister and Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, has praised Harlow’s Conservative Council in the House of Commons for their historic £55 Council Tax cut and planned freeze until 2025. The tax cut is expected to be the biggest in the UK and will be voted on at the Council's annual Budget meeting this evening.
The Cabinet Minister’s comments came in response to a question from Harlow’s MP, Robert Halfon, who highlighted that “Harlow’s Conservative Council, who were elected in May for only the second time in the town’s history, are cutting Council Tax this year by £55, freezing it until 2025” which is likely the biggest Council Tax cut in the country.
Mr Halfon said that the Government should “send a task force to Harlow to learn how to cut the cost of living” and see the “example that the rest of the country should follow”.
The Leader of the House responded with high praise, saying that it is “amazing what good Conservative Councils can do” adding that “Harlow should be held in lights” for the historic tax cut and for Mr Halfon’s work as MP for Harlow which he said “he does with such distinction and panache”.
The Conservative Council’s Budget is set to be voted on this evening and includes:
-
A £55 reduction on Council Tax bills from Harlow Council in 2022.
-
Planned Council Tax freezes until 2025 - taken with the reduction this year residents will pay £67 less to Harlow Council than was previously planned equating to a £2.1 million tax cut in total rather than a £600,000 tax increase.
-
£26 million towards building new council homes for Harlow families.
-
£122 million 5-year programme to improve existing council houses and flats.
-
£63 million 5-year programme to improve council-owned facilities across the town.
-
£6.4 million to enhance the town’s landscaping and environment.
-
No cuts to services, but more investment to improve council services for residents.
-
More funding for popular community services including Harlow Playhouse, Pets’ Corner and Harlow Museum.
-
New Estate Renewal Fund to restore pride in our estates and neighbourhoods.
-
A new combined planning and regeneration department to provide focus on delivering town centre and wider regeneration.
-
Car parking charges frozen in all Council-owned car parks.
