Sunderland's Conservatives are set to reject the 5% Council Tax increase proposed by Labour.
For weeks, the Sunderland Labour Group has told residents it would do everything it could to protect them from a Council Tax increase.
In the end, it took them just 7 minutes and 23 seconds to decide to put up your Council Tax at a meeting of Cabinet on 9th February.
Whilst government enables Councils to increase their Council Tax by 5% before triggering a referendum, it is not a requirement or an instruction.
The Council conducted a survey among Sunderland, Washington and Houghton residents which found little support for a 5% increase, but Labour has gone against the public's stated preference.
Cllr Peter Wood, Shadow Cabinet Secretary, said:
"Few things are more certain in life than Labour putting up Council Tax.
"With the pandemic, businesses and households have had a very difficult year making ends meet. Yet our Labour Council still wants to increase Council Tax by the maximum amount it legally can. Labour should be helping Sunderland people not hurting them.
"The people of Sunderland can rely on Conservative councillors to do our best to keep down any increase in Council Tax ".
Say 'No' to the 5% Hike
Residents who wish to oppose the Council Tax hike can sign our petition rejecting the increase by clicking here.
