Council Tax Up by 4.4%
Council tax increases have been pegged to just under 4.5% by Thanet District Council, despite a poor funding settlement from central government.
Thanet District Council received a cash increase in its Revenue Support Grant from the Government of only 2.5%, but with inflation running at 4.4%, this has meant that the money received by the Council has effectively been cut.
A series of budget savings has been made over the last few months, including changes to the senior management structure and other staffing reductions and increased income from fees and charges, although short term parking charges in town centres will remain the same. These savings have helped to reduce the original funding gap from £1.1 million to just £426,000.
To meet the remaining gap, Cabinet Members last night (Tuesday 6 February) agreed that Council Tax bills will rise by 4.44% for next year, a smaller increase than in 2006/07. As the vast majority of homes fall into bands A – C for Council Tax, that means most people will see a weekly increase in Thanet District Council’s share of the bill of less than 14p a week.
Leader of Thanet Council, Cllr. Sandy Ezekiel, said: “This has been one of the toughest budgets in recent years, following the disappointing settlement from central government. With inflation currently creeping up to a level of 4.4%, but our grant only increasing by a very disappointing 2.5%, it’s clear that we were always going to be left with a budget shortfall. With reducing income from our grant, the Council has had to work exceptionally hard over the last couple of months to ensure that Council Tax rises are kept to a minimum.”
He added: “It’s a tribute to everyone involved that the increase this year in our part of the Council Tax bill is slightly lower than last year and shows just how much work has gone into producing savings, which will not impact on our front line services. It is however very disappointing that we are in this position. We are one of the most deprived parts of the south east and yet again, we see money that Thanet desperately needs going to other parts of the country. The last thing we want to do is increase the burden on Council taxpayers, as we want to provide them with the best possible value for money, but with such a poor settlement from the government, we have been left with no choice.”
Thanet District Council received a cash increase in its Revenue Support Grant from the Government of only 2.5%, but with inflation running at 4.4%, this has meant that the money received by the Council has effectively been cut.
A series of budget savings has been made over the last few months, including changes to the senior management structure and other staffing reductions and increased income from fees and charges, although short term parking charges in town centres will remain the same. These savings have helped to reduce the original funding gap from £1.1 million to just £426,000.
To meet the remaining gap, Cabinet Members last night (Tuesday 6 February) agreed that Council Tax bills will rise by 4.44% for next year, a smaller increase than in 2006/07. As the vast majority of homes fall into bands A – C for Council Tax, that means most people will see a weekly increase in Thanet District Council’s share of the bill of less than 14p a week.
Leader of Thanet Council, Cllr. Sandy Ezekiel, said: “This has been one of the toughest budgets in recent years, following the disappointing settlement from central government. With inflation currently creeping up to a level of 4.4%, but our grant only increasing by a very disappointing 2.5%, it’s clear that we were always going to be left with a budget shortfall. With reducing income from our grant, the Council has had to work exceptionally hard over the last couple of months to ensure that Council Tax rises are kept to a minimum.”
He added: “It’s a tribute to everyone involved that the increase this year in our part of the Council Tax bill is slightly lower than last year and shows just how much work has gone into producing savings, which will not impact on our front line services. It is however very disappointing that we are in this position. We are one of the most deprived parts of the south east and yet again, we see money that Thanet desperately needs going to other parts of the country. The last thing we want to do is increase the burden on Council taxpayers, as we want to provide them with the best possible value for money, but with such a poor settlement from the government, we have been left with no choice.”
Sandy was disappointed about the settlement from Central Government? What did he expect; Kent has too many Tories in it and Ladyman's seat is unstable so why send a fair share to Thanet despite our high levels of deprivation. Money goes N to Labour areas of so called need and of course to the Scots. Beware of feeling happy about 4.4% those of you about to retire. Compounding reasonable rises of 4.4% per annum for 10 years means an £1,100 council tax bill rises to £1,692 by 2017.(54% increase) How much of your pension will be taken up? Since 1997 Council Tax has increased by 100%. It is time to re-jig a local tax allied to Income Tax and based on the ability to pay, not on a property that is a modest terraced home.
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:08 PM
Quote:
"It’s a tribute to everyone involved that the increase this year in our part of the Council Tax bill is slightly lower than last year and shows just how much work has gone into producing savings, which will not impact on our front line services."
Whaaat??! Is he having a laugh?
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:54 PM
Quote:
"A series of budget savings has been made over the last few months, including changes to the senior management structure and other staffing reductions"
"Changes to senior management structure" does not seem to mean any actual LOSS of senior managers.
"Other staffing reductions" is a cold blooded way of describing the 190 people who ARE at risk of losing their jobs. Conspicuously NOT senior management OR, even more gallingly, Business support staff, whose department stays almost completely intact!
Posted by
Anonymous |
6:07 PM