At Southwark Council's recent budget setting meeting the Conservative Group formally proposed a cut in council tax of almost 5%. This would have provided welcome relief for hard-pressed families.

The cut would have been achieved by more realistic budget forecasting and by reducing certain benefits to wealthier households.

The Conservative budget allowed for increased expenditure on important services, including more spending on road surfaces, more community wardens, and restoration of the budget of Kingswood House, Dulwich.

The proposals were voted down by high spending Labour councillors. Even so, council tax has been pegged back thanks to incentives from the national Government and by Mayor Boris Johnson's success in cutting the GLA precept.

Conservatives believe very strongly that families should be left with the fruits of their own hard work.