l REDDITCH councillors have just set a rise in the borough's share of council tax of four per cent. But a 13 per cent rise in Worcestershire County Council's tax means households in the town will once again see the burden go up next month by more than many people can afford. And the leader of the opposition Conservative group tells the Advertiser there's worse to come.

THERE will be a taxpayers' revolt unless local taxes start to make a difference to their lives, predicts Gavin Smithers.

Today, all people end up doing is asking where is the value for what they are paying, he says.

"Labour Governments don't like people to own their own homes and be independent so they'll tax you on your aspirations and your achievements," says Mr Smithers. "Council tax is becoming a property tax, regardless of whether people use local services or not."

He adds: "In six years under a Labour Government, people across the UK in a band D house (valued in 1991 at £88,000-120,000) are paying 48 per cent more in council tax.

"In Redditch, the actual figure is a council tax of £620 in 1996/7 as opposed to £996 in 2002/03 - that's an eye-watering average 10 per cent rise every year under Labour."

Mr Smithers argues Labour has cut the proportion of funds allocated centrally from 76 per cent in 1997 to 73 per cent now, making hikes in the county's tax inevitable if services are to be maintained.

"In Labour's first term, shire counties like ours saw cuts in their funding of £700 million and the Government is now pouring money which once came to us into metropolitan areas instead," he says.

"They are legislating to pool receipts from Redditch's right to buy council house sales, so the benefits aren't retained locally. This can only make the housing situation worse, when we need more money from the private and voluntary sector coming in to help small borough councils meet their housing needs."

And council tax under Labour will inevitably carry on rising above inflation, believes Mr Smithers.

He points out that after the next General Election, Labour legislation to re-value houses will push many homes into higher bands, hitting retired people and those on fixed incomes hard.

Mr Smithers says: "The average house price rise of 86 per cent across the West Midlands since 1991 threatens to put houses which were in band C - at the average value of £56,000 then- into band E. That means, at one fell swoop, an extra 33 per cent on the bill of the average house."

The Conservatives response in Redditch would be to re-focus spending on the priorities dear to residents, says Mr Smithers.

"Good educational and environmental standards, better job opportunities, a stronger economy and a safer borough depend on the goodwill, the effort and the energy of local people", he says.

"Under almost 20 years of Labour control, we've had a council bent on providing services itself, reluctant to give up close control, and deeply suspicious of private sector help and expertise. It's tragic the initiative and ideas in our community haven't been put to better use.

"The legacy of that is a rag-bag of services and facilities, some of which would do much better for the town if the council didn't run them directly.

"We need to look afresh at things like community centres and the Arrow Valley Park."

He asks: "Do we really achieve, in everything the council does, what local people want? Are our services distinctive or do they lack focus and a sense of purpose? Is there anyone who could provide a better service at lower cost? And what are we neglecting to do, in terms of promoting Redditch to the outside world, and bringing in the facilities and opportunities our children deserve?"

Mr Smithers feels Labour has missed too many opportunities and offered little strategic forward planning.

"They have muddled through and tried to do too many things at the same time. Even now, Labour councillors are squabbling over whether they'll ever deliver proper leisure facilities at the Abbey Stadium," he says.

"Now we have to restore in our neighbourhoods a sense of safety, of pride, of identity. We need people to volunteer to do more and we need to concentrate on what's needed to make this a place we're truly proud to live or work in.

"We all want a better quality of life, good standards of behaviour, and a strong community spirit. The council needs to make its partnerships with charities and private businesses so much better, to reflect those aims."