Leaders must release full data on tax - councillor

Councillor Dan Boatright-Greene says he should be entitled to the full document

A Worcestershire councillor has been refused access to a document that was partially-leaked to the BBC over council tax - leaving him "horrified".

Last week, it was revealed that Worcestershire County Council had been exploring scenarios for what households might have to pay from 2028, under plans for local government reorganisation.

But Lib Dem councillor Dan Boatright-Greene says he has been trying to get the authority to hand over the document ever since, suggesting its leadership is hiding behind Freedom of Information requests.

Last week, council chief executive Paul Robinson said he was "really disappointed" by the leak and insisted no decisions had been made over council tax.

Under some scenarios, the figures indicated some significant tax rises had been considered.

Boatright-Greene said: "I am calling on the council's leadership to stop hiding behind Freedom of Information requests and release all the reports so far produced to councillors so we can scrutinise them properly."

The leaked slide showing potential options for council tax rates from 2028

The data revealed how people in areas including Evesham and Droitwich could face tax increases of more than £400 a year by 2028, if councillors chose to pursue such an option.

It also suggested pursuing the creation of a single unitary "super council" could prove more expensive to taxpayers than splitting the county in two and creating separate councils for north and south Worcestershire.

"I am absolutely horrified by the tactics being used by the council," Boatright-Greene said.

"Without this leaked report we would not have known that initial assessments show a whole county approach will cost residents in Pershore significantly more.

"It is very clear they had no intention of providing all the data - just what suits their agenda and their narrative."

He suggested the leadership was using FoI procedures to slow things down and asked "what do they have to hide?".

'Committed to transparency'

But, Robinson said "a myriad of options" have been looked at, and that more public consultations would need to take place before anything was decided.

Worcestershire is one of the first areas taking part in the government's plans for local government reorganisation - with a final submission due to be made to ministers at the end of November.

Five out of Worcestershire's six district councils favour splitting the county in two and having separate unitary authorities for the north and south.

But the big change is mired in disagreements, with Worcestershire County Council favouring one unitary authority instead, as well as Wyre Forest District Council.

Reform councillor David Taylor, cabinet member for local government reorganisation, said: "As the elected administration, we remain fully committed to transparency.

"The final business case [for having a unitary authority] will be shared with all members and residents ahead of the council meeting in November.

"It's disappointing that Councillor Boatwright-Greene has chosen to focus on selective aspects of the proposal, particularly when council tax harmonisation will be a necessary consideration in both the 'one' and 'two' council models."

He added: "Any administration can have conversations behind the scenes to look at all options without the need to publish every single consideration."

The councillor said options included lower levels of council tax - and that work had been taking place with district councils over possible options.