Conservatives at Essex County Council have announced an above inflation hike in council tax paid to the county council for financial year 2007/08. Residents in Essex will see an increase of 4.5% combined with whatever increase their district council and Essex police and fire authorities propose. Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Liberal Democrat leader on Essex County Council, said:

"This increase will hurt large numbers of people across Essex, but we are particularly concerned about the financial burden on those people on pensions and fixed low incomes. The council tax is a particularly unfair tax not linked to the ability to pay, which hits the elderly, vulnerable and disadvantaged people the hardest. It should be scrapped."