LIBERAL Democrats have called for Worcestershire County Council’s leader, Coun Jo Monk, to step down after the authority approved a huge council tax hike.
The Reform-led Worcestershire County Council approved an 8.98 per cent increase in council tax at a meeting last Thursday, citing a dire financial situation as the reason for the rise.
The Liberal Democrats have now called for Reform leader Coun Monk and her deputy, Coun Rob Wharton, to step down, submitting a notice of motion which will be debated at the next council meeting.
The hike means a band D council tax payer will see their payments to Worcestershire increase by £145 per year.
The council recently had a £59million Exceptional Finance Support package approved by the Government to enable it to avoid effective bankruptcy.
Coun Monk has previously said this budget was needed due to the dire financial situation the previous Conservative administration had left them in when they came to power in May 2025.
At a press conference last month, she said that the Reform administration was willing to be honest with the public and was taking responsibility for the ‘mess’ that was left.
Coun Adam Kent, the Conservative group leader, said Reform could have made enough savings since May 2025 to have stopped this mega tax rise.
Coun Josh Robinson, who announced the call at the council meeting, said: “Council leadership has clearly failed over the past nine months.
“They promised to cut waste and cut taxes. Elected officials should stand by their word.
“When a clear failure has occurred, you need to stand by your actions.
“The situation we face is grave, and I have no confidence in this leadership to enact it.”
The Lib Dems staged a walkout ahead of the vote on the budget, but not before they secured £21million in commitments, which they claim is ringfencing of the highways grant, including investment into flooding alleviation, new cycle routes and drainage clearance.
Coun Monk said: “If a Notice of Motion has been submitted in line with the council’s constitution, it may be debated at the next council meeting so I won’t be commenting at this stage.”
Coun Wharton was unavailable for comment by the time we went to press.
