Union calls for 'people's budget'

LIVERPOOL does not need a 5% council tax rise and should build 5,000 “genuinely affordable homes.”

- By DAVID HUMPHREYS

That is the view of the Liverpool Trades Union Council (LTUC) as it puts forward its own “People’s Budget” ahead of the city council confirming its financial plan next week.Councillors will be asked to approve a maximum council tax increase of 4.99% and proposals to cut more than £50m from its budget over the next 12 months when they convene at the Town Hall on Wednesday. This is the highest amount rates can go up by without a referendum.

Ahead of that crunch meeting, LTUC - which is not represented on the city council - have attempted to put forward their alternative in the form of a “People’s Budget.”

As part of the proposals, LTUC said they would scrap the proposed 5% council tax rise altogether. This would save households £112 a year, according to their findings.