A COUNCIL has been likened to a “compulsive gambler” after members clashed over a tax rise of 3.9 per cent for local residents.

Councillor Tony Riordan, leader of the Conservative group on Stockton Council, who made the comments, said the Labour-run authority was “raking it in” from residents by imposing the tax hike and described the increase being proposed as “whopping”.

Following a near two-hour ‘virtual’ debate at a special meeting to discuss the council’s financial plans 37 members voted to approve the rise with 12 against.

Council leader Bob Cook had warned it was a case of putting up council tax or making cuts with finance officers forecasting a £2.5m budget gap rising to £4.5m over the next three years if the money from a tax rise was not forthcoming.

A total of two per cent of the 3.9 per cent increase for the 2021/22 financial year will come via the Government’s adult social care levy – an increase ministers have given local authorities the power to impose since 2016. 

Also approved was the council’s three year medium term plan which includes additional borrowing of up to £20m for regeneration schemes in Billingham, Thornaby and Stockton.

This will see the council buying up swathes of land in Billingham town centre and pushing ahead with plans to create a riverside park to replace the ageing Castlegate shopping centre in Stockton.

Cllr Riordan said that “compulsive gambling addiction [had] taken hold of this Labour led council”, referring to plans to also write off a £215,000 deficit racked up by the council-owned Hampton by Hilton Hotel.

The hotel, which was opened in 2019, was funded from an original £17m of borrowing and has seen occupancy hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Cllr Riordan added: “Like most gamblers the main topics of conversation always return to the next gamble – this time it surrounds the additional gamble of £20m for Billingham, Thornaby and Stockton town centres.”

Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Mohammed Javed, who chaired the meeting, told Cllr Riordan that “using the word gambler [did] not suit the chambers”, adding: “Please use another word”.

Councillor Steve Walmsley, who is a member of the Thornaby Independent Association, referred to Cllr Riordan as “Rip Van Riordan” and said he had “been asleep for the past ten years” as Conservative cuts “ground people into the deck”.

He said: “We hear a lot about the Government pumping money in during the Covid-19 crisis, but any Government worth their salt would have done the same.”

Cllr Walmsley claimed the ruling Labour group had got it right with their proposed budget and tax proposals and said funding rising social care costs was the “right thing to do”.

Councillor Bill Woodhead, another independent member, said: “If we followed Cllr Riordan there would be nothing coming into Stockton at all – it would be a ghost town.”

Meanwhile, Councillor Steve Nelson, for Labour, referred to “Tory hypocrisy” and said Cllr Riordan and his colleagues’ opposition to the proposals were a half-hearted effort.

However there was plenty of support for Cllr Riordan from fellow Conservatives.

Councillor Steven Richardson said: “I cannot agree to support the [council tax] rise due to the mismanagement of spending that goes on at the council.

“I will not support the greedy plan to bail out the hotel and the Globe [theatre] with a cost far beyond the original planned cost.

“I am proud to be a councillor in Stockton, but cannot support the increase when the council struggles to get the little things right.”

Councillor Sally Ann Watson said many residents were struggling to pay their bills which should be the primary factor in setting council tax levels.

Councillor Matt Vickers, who is also the Conservative MP for Stockton South, said: “It is those on low incomes and pensioners on fixed incomes who will struggle to find this extra money for the council to spend.

“The Government has given the council an additional £118m, so much money you have not worked out how to spend it all.

“Perhaps the council should be looking at what can be done with what they have got and how it can be properly spent before asking local people to stump up yet more.”

But Councillor Eileen Johnson, for Labour, described the Conservatives as merely being strong on rhetoric and said they had not provided a fully-costed alternative to the council’s proposals.

Councillor Nigel Cooke, who is the council’s cabinet member for regeneration and housing, said the authority wanted to “build back better” and said the council’s medium term financial plan was sound and robust.

He also said Cllr Riordan’s comments were insulting to people who had genuine addictions and needed help or support.

Council leader Cllr Cook said: “The Conservatives have come along with a wish to freeze council tax, but without any plan and telling us which services they would cut.

“It is easy being in opposition telling us what we should or shouldn’t be doing, but it is a lot harder when you have to make the decisions required.

“We are committed to doing the right thing, protecting the vulnerable and investing in the future which is something we should be proud of.

“All the Tory group want to do is run the council and the town down and make sure we have no vision for Stockton.”