'RATES REVOLT set to crumble' said the Guardian last Saturday. In a report written by someone described as a groupie of a major interviewee of Marxism Today the impression was given that save for Hackney the ratecapping revolt was all but over.
A special unionists and Constituency Labour Parties called by the Association of Labour Autorities the next day, showed this for the lie it is.
Though there is still sulc crumblne in some councils and no guarantees can be gyven tor al time. nevertheless most of the councIs hope stay without a rate for a while longer. Unfortunately the mano s nol gee or the fact that the GLC has rescheduled its precept demand so that interest is due a week earlier than expected. As one delegale said: should the GLC threaten us?' would be wrong to that everything hunky dory' What the showed was that there is a crisis perspective SUNC of councillors, quarters. This comes from two directions On the one hand the crisis is seen in a turthe falling away of councillors with Sheffield making rate and Southwark on the brink of doing so. On the other 11 IS getting harder to mobilise for ye allutllcd COlIN bicerne This demands for somehow show from both sides. As theil delegates pointed out resolution for deferring a rate would have been passed by Sheffield Council. The resOlutIon presented for refusing to set a rate 'going illegal" have sounded more pure — what it did was ensure it would be lost, as some who supported that option undoubtedly knew probably counted on.
Lambeth Local Government Committee)
The only answer is to stay cool and stand firm. The government's strategy 15 IO Ir and keep things cr æe conr a from the district Uz ch buss bIr. doing so they have banked U1. councils one bi falling by the wayside. At the same time ther shown they are afriad of a direct controntation The signs are now that the government is running out of time. The district auditor has begun the process which will lead to surTed Knight charge and is said to have indicated he will act at the end of the month.
There is no need of any special force Lallis something happen. What is needed is to continue the job of preparing the groundwork for when surcharge cerunicales are filed.
Auditor Islington Council workers showed the way to do last week when 2000 mobilised, including lammine ine streets with council vehicles, In orde! to greet the district auditor who nad come to cscus. with IslIngion councillors. It wa For a focus of action after the council metings things were discussed The Hackney Council meeting on 21 May is to be the next tocus ot activity on the SLICCLS Because of the special situation of their court call w.asc lallvlld. LUI support of the lobby of the meeting was made LiverpOdI councillors pledged that coaches of their coun"UkCI WORI down thai day. All Lon. don activists should see the Zlșt as a priority. London Bridge joint unions pledged to mobilise their forces Behind the scenes the other important aspect is raising financial support. In most boroughs, parties ana shop stewards comhave set up menne o n oce l be prepared to defend long legal actions ascilt buE charge. But that must only be seen in the context of Bridge's OLDe pledge that if councils continue not to set a rate ther when surcharge certiticates are issued. ther will organise action across London Wher asked about the role of the trade leadership they stressed they aired to act irrespective what they are told to do nationally
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Sepp shop hee e Sen the problem