Lib Dems call for tax refund

With many people struggling to make ends meet in the current recession, it's time for Essex taxpayers to have some of their money back. That is the view of Liberal Democrats at Essex County Council, who asked the council to release some of its £200 million reserves back into local people's pockets.

The Lib Dems called for a £50 Council Tax refund to all households in Bands A to D. Nearly 440,000 homes across Essex would have benefited from the plan. Three quarters of Essex households would be better off under the Lib Dems.

The Lib Dems also proposed a half million cut in the County Council's £5 million publicity budget. The party wanted to invest £0.75 million in Youth Services and further expansion of the Essex Apprenticeship Scheme .

Essex County Council's ruling Conservative councillors defeated the Liberal Democrat plan. The Conservatives have more than doubled the Council Tax over the past few years and built up huge sums of money in reserves at a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet.