The local authority’s leader, councillor Jo Monk, has said its finances were “a mess” and warned it might have to issue a Section 114 notice – effectively declaring itself bankrupt.
She was joined at a briefing on Friday by Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, who said Worcestershire’s finances were the worst of any of the councils it controlled in England.
Taylor, who resigned as deputy leader of the authority in August, explained he had “several issues” with the running of the council, from both a political and officer perspective and “council tax is one of those issues”.
He added: “I think we could have made decisions sooner and I think leaving it this late in the day to make cuts and to expect people who are already not doing so well… to expect them to pay more council tax, I just don’t think I can support that.”
In response, the party said: “Reform inherited Worcestershire County Council in exceptional financial measures after more than two decades of Conservative mismanagement.
“Sadly, this means that council tax will have to rise to keep the council solvent, however the Reform administration is working around the clock to ensure this increase is kept as low as possible.”