BOLTON MP David Crausby has called for local authorities to be allowed to set the level of Council Tax they choose.

And he has praised Bolton borough for leading the way in rebuilding confidence in local government and democracy.

He spoke out in the Commons as MPs debated the new Local Government Bill, which replaces the Tories Council Tax Capping with a more discriminating system.

It also scraps compulsory competitive tendering in favour of new 'best value legislation', which adds quality of service to cost in considering whether activities should be undertaken by local authorities or private contractors.

The Bolton North-east Labour MP, elected as a local councillor on the same day Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister in 1979, said he had no idea how she would destroy local government.

Public support

He said people had lost faith in councils - clearly shown by the fact that in some local elections less than 20 per cent of people vote.

He warned: "As the public stop voting locally, local democracy will be diminished and will reach the point at which it is no longer representative or democratic.

"Bolton Council understands that and has as much interest in assuring public support and confidence as anyone. I welcome the steps that the council has taken, especially its decision for future partnership with organisations for the whole community, including business, trade unions, the voluntary sector, the police and many others.

"The clear powers in the Bill will enable Bolton Council and authorities across the country to take on a more effective community leadership role.

"On Council Tax Capping, I welcome the removal of the existing capping powers and their replacement with more discriminating reserve powers.

"However, I believe, as I am sure many of us do, that our ultimate objective should be to abolish capping entirely.

"If the public are willing to pay increasing levels of Council Tax, that is their choice.

"Levels of local taxation should be decided locally."

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