OPPOSITION proposals to reduce council tax increases across North Herts have been defeated. Labour leader Cllr David Kearns wanted a 2 per cent cut in the proposed 4.5 per cent council tax increase which was approved at a council meeting on Wednesday even

OPPOSITION proposals to reduce council tax increases across North Herts have been defeated. Labour leader Cllr David Kearns wanted a 2 per cent cut in the proposed 4.5 per cent council tax increase which was approved at a council meeting on Wednesday evening. He told members: "I believe that those of us who have the responsibility of taxing should do it in a responsible manner. "We are in a position to make a reduction in our precept figure of 2 per cent, to give £150,000 back to the people of north Herts. It's the right thing to do." Cllr Kearns pushed for the amendment after new figures revealed the district council had £324,000 more in their accounts than previously estimated. But Cllr F John Smith, the leader of the council, F John Smith, told members the money had already been ringfenced. He accused Cllr Kearns of being "irresponsible". "He is basing his amendment on the results after three-quarters of a year, not the whole year. "And he has forgotten to point out to the council that all of this money is intended to carry over for things that have been delayed." Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Steve Jarvis said: "It's interesting that North Herts has the third highest council tax rise in Herts. "If we look across Herts, we can see that Conservative councils have put up council tax by three times the amount that Liberal Democrats have and Labour are somewhere in the middle.