Conservative proposal to scrap council tax support scheme branded "attempted mugging" of Rotherham's poorest residents

A CONSERVATIVE proposal to scrap a council tax support scheme was branded an “attempted mugging” of Rotherham’s poorest residents as it was voted down — including by some Tory members.

Cutting the top-up payments — received by 14,000 households — would save £1.2 million, which would go on providing 400 properties with solar panels.

Tory group leader Cllr Simon Ball said the energy savings would allow more households to take advantage in the future, and the idea was fairer for all.

Having suggested a council tax freeze last year, the Tories put forward a two per cent increase this year — half of Labour’s four per cent — funded by £7.5 million from reserves. The ruling group said a small increase would mean more next year to make up for it.

And members called the idea of scrapping the tax relief “diabolical”, “shameful” and “ridiculous”.

Cabinet member Cllr Dominic Beck said: “This is serious stuff. This would make poor people poorer in Rotherham.”

Cllr Drew Tarmey, Lib Dems, called it a “reverse Robin Hood” approach and an example of “Liz Truss economics”.

Independent Cllr Michael Bennett-Sylvester said: “This isn’t an amendment. This is an attempted mugging by a Conservative party that has an ideological, even pathological, hatred of the poor.”

The Conservatives also wanted more spent on litter and potholes and called for the council’s number of electric vehicles to be increased from two to 20.

Cllr Ball said: “The bringing forward of these vehicles is vital in combating the climate change emergency, that was brought into this chamber some 1,218 days ago.”

Three Tories broke the whip and went against the plans while another — previous leader Cllr Emily Barley — left the room as the vote took place.

But Cllr Ball said: “All councillors who supported the Labour council tax increase need to go back to their wards and explain why they are yet again squeezing the income of the many hard-working households who are struggling to get by.

“Too many middle class councillors with their private planes, their swimming pools, multiple homes and  personalised number plates, telling hardworking families across Rotherham that they can afford to pay more.

“They don’t get that the hard-working people of places like Maltby believe in fairness, and frankly are shocked at the idea that Labour want thousands of households to be taken entirely out of council tax, while they struggle to get by.”

Cllr Barley, who stepped down as Tory group leader in December said afterwards: “I couldn’t support Cllr Ball’s budget amendment. I just didn’t think it was right.”