Christopher Pincher
Main Page: Christopher Pincher (Independent - Tamworth)
Mr Pickles
I kind of understand that it has never been a glad morning since the hon. Gentleman lost his position as housing chairman at Hammersmith. Frankly, abusing somebody from the safety of this Chamber does him no credit at all.
Christopher Pincher (Tamworth) (Con)
18. What change in band D council tax he expects (a) on average in local authorities in England and (b) in Tamworth borough between 2010-11 and 2011-12.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles)
Average band D council tax for all local authorities in England, including Tamworth, is unchanged between 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Christopher Pincher
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that answer. By sharing back-office services with Lichfield district council and by bearing down on furniture and other equipment costs, Tamworth borough council has managed to keep council tax frozen, reduce its spending and ensure that it is doing a good job. Will my right hon. Friend please commend the Conservative-controlled council, and its retiring value-for-money chief executive David Weatherley, for the work that they have done?
Mr Pickles
Of course my hon. Friend has much to be proud of in Tamworth council. It clearly cares about front-line services and is not prepared, as some Labour councils have been, to use the poor as a battering ram against the Government for base political motives.