You deserve open politics

THE decision may have been made in the blink of an eye.

But the shockwaves caused by Barrow Borough Council’s move to increase council tax by 3.49 per cent this year will be felt for some time.

Not least because of the way in which town hall chiefs have dodged a referendum.

Any rise of 3.5 per cent or more would have been put out to the public for their view.

It does not take a genius to predict the outcome of any forced debate – so the council elected to avoid one altogether by imposing an increase which was 0.01 per cent below the threshold.

People are angry – understandably so. Everyone is being forced to tighten their belts; indeed many users of the Evening Mail’s Facebook site regularly bemoan the difficulties they face paying the most basic of bills.

Of course as a collective, we want the best for our borough.

But there are ways and means of achieving our ultimate goals.

Perhaps the council could have set out a transparent, three-year council tax strategy, with increases starting at three per cent this year, and rising to four per cent in year three when the economy will hopefully have been strengthened.

The lack of any public consultation here – and the apparent willful decision to actively dodge any – is lamentable.

We want open and honest policies in our town, not back door methods of forcing through unpopular choices through fear of a public backlash.