PATRICK JENKIN has finally announced his Rate Support Grant for 1985-6. Eighteen 'high spending' councils in large urban areas have been told that they cannot legally get by without making massive cuts in planned expenditure on local services. spending, predicted.
In translating spending limits into rate limits Mr Jenkin 'democratically' says he has taken into account each council's financial reserves.
In Leicester ministers are demanding a cut in rates of 57 per cent. While Merseyside will be allowed to raise them by 27 per cent.
Ratepayers can legally refuse to pay a rate above the government imposed ceiling under the new legislation.
Sixteen of the authorities list are Labour controlled. Mr Jenkin simultaneously pointed out to parliament that savines from the proposed cuts would allow him to give more leeway to several Conservative-led country authorities — spenders of course.
The government, dispute, is no longer even making the pretence of impartiality with its open use and abuse of the law.
In simple terms if this draconian legislation is implemented there would be increasingly little practical point in voting Labour in local council elections. Central government will determine what your local council spends, representatives.
If the seven local government unions affected by the Act are correct the legislation will chop 75,000 jobs in local government. The services lost to the community through rate-capping will be unquantifiable.
Patrick Jenkin now boasts that there has been a lot of blood authorities but that a lot of these councillors are sensible and although they don't like the legislation they won't - in the end — break the law. Neil Kinnock and John Cunningham have no doubt encouraged Jenkin by their public utterances that Labour councils must obey the law under all circumstances. This will encourage wavering in the Labour Party to waver as the draws near. ing setting higher rates, using up balances through creative accounting and no end of similar tricks.
But the carrying through of Labour Party conference and Sheffield local government conference policy of non-compliance with this legislation is absolutely crucial.
Waverers have to be nailed by their constituency Labour Parties, Labour groups and trade unions.
Councillors who do not wish to fight should take the advice of the London stewards and the Democracy for London Campaign and resign to make way for those who do and can afford to fight.
Those Labour Parties and individual councillors committed to a battle have to do more than simply prepare for martyrdom.
They have to get out and organise with above all else the local authority unions, through discussions on their budgets and their chosen tactics of opposition, to ensure that the troops that can win this battle are solidly on their side.
Liverpool is the only council to date that has done this in a systematic fashion. Unsurprisingly it's the only council that can claim to have marked up any success. The same challenge now faces the rest of Laböur controlled councils. After Jenkin's statement no one can imagine they are going to be able to avoid a fight.
Prolonged viral war!
CONTRARY TO our solemn promise last week the Socialist Action staff continue to be cut down to half our normal complement by viruses.
We therefore apologise for the absence of a part of our normal coverage.
Contributions considered should however be sent to the fund drive instead!
The editor The rate, sharper than good low as miners' not your elected