Hartlepool council tax freeze claim to be investigated

Labour members called an extraordinary meeting of Hartlepool Council

A local authority is to investigate whether there has been "dishonesty" from leaders over council tax.

Hartlepool Council Labour members called an extraordinary meeting to raise concerns that residents had been misled by a Conservative leaflet.

The leaflet advertised a council tax freeze but was "meant to say" the possibility was being considered, they were told.

Conservative council leader Mike Young has welcomed the investigation.

Councillors unanimously agreed the "matter of whether there has been dishonesty" would be referred to the local authority's audit and governance committee for investigation, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The motion requested an extraordinary meeting of full council "regarding the misleading of both the public and elected members on the issue of council tax by the council leader and potentially other members of the Conservative coalition""

Labour group deputy leader Jonathan Brash told councillors the leaflet, distributed in the Hart ward, stated Mr Young had "revealed that the next budget for 2024-25 will see council tax frozen for Hartlepool residents".

But, speaking at the last full council meeting, Mr Young clarified the leaflet "was meant to say that we were looking towards the possibility" of freezing council tax and were awaiting further budgetary information.

Electoral Commission referral

A quote in the leaflet, attributed to Mr Young, said he "immediately instructed officers to start preparing for a budget that froze council tax" when he first became council leader.

However, Mr Brash showed councillors an email from the council's managing director in which she said she was "not aware of any discussions where the leader has instructed officers to start preparing for a budget that froze council tax".

Mr Young said he had contacted the managing director to discuss bringing forward a council tax freeze motion but, following further advice, did not do so.

He said there had been a number of informal meetings on the subject.

"What I will say is, based on the evidence that you've brought, I welcome an investigation by audit and governance," he said.

"I think that should happen."

Conservative councillor Tom Cassidy, as the publisher of the leaflet, will also be referred to the Electoral Commission for investigation.