On Sun, 01 Nov 2015 14:56:52 +0000, charles wrote:

all councils have their Council Tax rates capped by central
government. If there's no money to look after the footpaths, it
doesn't matter which party runs County Hall.

Of course it does - because different parties may prioritise different
expenditure.

B'sides, it's only the increase in CT that's capped by gov't, not the
actual rate - and even that cap can be exceeded, so long as a local
referendum agrees it.

True - but has any council tried that, yet?

Yes, one. Bedfordshire, in May this year.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32694166