Conservatives cost you more

4.15.38pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 3rd Jan 2006

The seven District Councils in Hampshire with the highest Council Tax are ALL Conservative controlled. And with more than two thirds of your Council Tax being charged by the Tory-run County Council, it's no wonder people are asking where all the money goes!

In Hart, North East Hampshire, auditors have refused to sign off the accounts of the District Council.

Liberal Democrat Councillor David Simpson described this as 'breathtaking financial incompetence by the ruling Conservative Group.' Hart Conservatives' poor financial management was further underlined when they failed to notice £11 million had not been reclaimed from the Government in Business Tax.

At the same time, Lib Dem councils have set among the lowest Council Tax. Liberal Democrat councillors play a part in running three of the four councils with the lowest tax in Hampshire (Eastleigh, Winchester and Basingstoke).

Eastleigh Council has set tax increases below inflation year after year. The council, which has a Liberal Democrat majority, aims to set a tax increase of less than 2% - just 5p a week for many households.