Councillor Howard Jones, leader of the Conservative Group Opposition, was scathing in his criticism of the Liberal Democrat administration increasing council tax by 1.9% at Kingston Council Budget meeting. This ensures that Kingston residents still pay the highest council tax in London. The incompetence is highlighted by the failure of their own inability to achieve a £2 million saving which they had built into their desperately failing One Council Program. This lost saving would have ensured at least a freeze in council tax.

We cannot continue with an administration that achieves only minimum standards in its management of resources and finances as reported in the latest Government criticism of how the finances of this council are managed.

This budget was based on eight years of poor Liberal Democrat management.

26% of residents surveyed believed the council offers value for money, 74% are dissatisfied and say that the council failed in this area.
We cannot afford to continue with these people in charge, the residents have lost faith, the services are failing and its about time for some new clear Conservative thinking and management. We will aim for Zero percent increases in tax particularly in these difficult times of recession, lost jobs and tightening of family budgets.