How would local parties tackle the cost of living?

Rising council tax bills and higher prices for food and fuel mean the cost of living continues to increase. As voters head to the polls, what do the main national parties say about the issue locally?

On 7 May all seats on Suffolk County Council and a third of seats on Ipswich Borough Council are up for election.

The candidates from the main national parties joined a debate on BBC Radio Suffolk.

Suffolk County Council has a budget of £850m and for the next financial year the Conservative-run authority has put up council tax by 4.99%.

Matthew Hicks, the Conservative leader of the authority, said: "We were given an option of how to raise council tax, taking a maximum of 4.99%. And the government was very clear [that] if you didn't take the maximum amount of council tax, you wouldn't get the maximum amount of grants on the other side of the equation."

He continued: "With demand increasing in both children's services and adult care, although we have made savings of over £30m through transformation, we need to take that maximum amount in order to continue to deliver those services.

"But what I would say is, in order to get there, we have made significant internal savings."

Hicks confirmed the authority had been able to deliver a budget for this financial year without making any cuts to front-line services.

For Hicks the solution to the cost-of-living crisis was a thriving economy, adding: "The problem we've got at the moment is we don't have a thriving economy through Labour."

The Green Party is the second largest party at Suffolk County Council and with its nine councillors it formed the official opposition with the Liberal Democrats and Independents.

Andrew Stringer, the party's group leader, said: "If you look across Suffolk, how Green-run councils are helping residents, we've got things like 'ease the squeeze', which is in libraries and is like a citizen advice bureau."

He added: "We've also helped with new affordable housing in Mid Suffolk. Where they're being overcharged by their water companies and that's saving these people over £30 a month."

Stringer, who also sits on Mid Suffolk District Council, said: "With a Green-run council like Mid Suffolk, the average wage is £5,000 less than the national average.

"Now we are addressing that. We've just got £16m of government money to build a skill centre to up the skillset of our local residents to help improve the wages so they get the wages and income they deserve."

He continued: "In Mid Suffolk, where the Green Party run the council, we've had the lowest council tax rises in the region, where they've averaged over three years, less than 2%."

Reform UK did not stand any candidates at Suffolk County Council's last elections in 2021, but through defections and by-elections the party has gained six seats.

Christopher Hudson, the leader of Reform UK group, said: "People can't afford to pay any more now. They are facing a real cost-of-living crisis. So we have to think of solutions and they're going to need to be radical solutions."

One area Hudson thinks the authority can save money would be to "undeclare the climate emergency", adding: "It's a vanity project as far as we're concerned that the people of Suffolk cannot afford."

On council tax and the council's budget, Hudson said: "We keep whacking up the council tax, the people haven't got the money.

"I'm looking for savings across the board and that will be all sections of the county council. It isn't something that one would relish doing, but I'm afraid needs must."

He finished by saying he thought it would be unlikely the Labour government would give the council any additional help.

David Ellesmere is a Labour Ipswich Borough councillor and is standing for election for Suffolk County Council.

In response to Hudson, Ellesmere said: "In actual fact, the [Labour] government is increasing spending to councils and I know from the council that I'm on, we've actually had the easiest budget setting process we've had for a long time this year because of the money that we've got."

He added: "Any party that tells you that they're going to be cutting council tax is basically lying to you."

Ellesmere said the Labour Party was responding to the cost-of-living crisis, adding: "[At the borough council] we are building more council houses, which are cheaper for people. We're insulating homes and installing solar power to cut energy bills.

"We brought in a new council benefit scheme to give more support to people on the lowest incomes."

He continued: "We know a lot of people are concerned about the future of the libraries, and what I would say is a Labour council would guarantee that all the libraries would stay open and they'd all keep the same opening hours."

There are five Liberal Democrat councillors on Suffolk County Council and Inga Lockington is the party's group leader.

When asked what the party would do to ensure the cost-of-living crisis is tackled, she said: "We need to change the tax system so that you are taxed on your income and not the house, or property you live in.

"That is such an unfair tax because some people maybe have a good income but choose to live in a smaller house."

She continued: "We need to be sure that all the residents who get into hardship know where to go. We need to be sure that it's publicised, not only on a website, but actual information in our libraries wherever, because hardship can happen to any of us."

A full list of candidates taking part in the Suffolk County Council elections on 7 May can be found on the authority's website.

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