Borough council opts for tax freeze

[dutchman]

Borough council chiefs have opted not to increase Council Tax.

At a meeting, North Warwickshire Borough Council announced it will not opt for a rise for the third year running.

At the meeting of the executive board on Tuesday, councillors considered the budget for 2014-15 with the ruling Labour group proposing no increase, while the Conservatives abstained.

This recommendation will now go to a meeting of the full Council on Wednesday, February 26.

However as Labour have the majority the vote to hold down the Council Tax will be carried.

Councillor Mick Stanley, Labour leader of the council said: "This was a very difficult budget for councillors to consider.

"The government has cut our funding by 13.5 per cent this year alone and we have to make massive savings of £2.03 million over the next four years.

"We had to seriously consider whether to increase the Council Tax because we had so little money.

"The county council and the Police Commissioner both faced cuts and have decided to put up their Council Tax precept by 1.9 per cent. There was an expectation that we would do the same.

"But we recognise that there is still a standard of living crisis within our borough.

"We promised as a Labour group that we would be on the side of local people in hard times. That is why for the third consecutive year we are recommending no increase in the borough Council Tax.

"We will only be able to do this by making greater savings than planned and with the continued use of reserves. There will be some difficult choices to consider in years to come.

"This is a Labour council delivering improvements whilst maintaining a balanced budget and keeping costs down for the council taxpayer."

The decision does not mean that people in North Warwickshire will have no Council Tax increase. Although the Labour-controlled borough council will not increase the Council Tax, the Conservative controlled county council is increasing it and so is the Police Commissioner.

Meanwhile Atherstone Town Council has agreed to reduce its annual town precept by 21 per cent.

The Conservative-led authority says it will come as welcome news for ratepayers in Atherstone.

Newly elected town councillor, David Wright, who recently won the Atherstone North By-election, said: "We are committed to giving best value to the Council Tax-payers of Atherstone by keeping the precept low whilst at the same time investing in the town and services that we provide.

"When elected I pledged to give residents value for money and I am delighted that the Conservative group have led the calls for a reduction in the precept."

Backing the decision, Bedworth and North Warwickshire MP Dan Byles, said: "I strongly support Atherstone Town Council's decision to reduce the amount that local ratepayers pay.

"It is another example that shows local Conservatives are on the side of residents."