A Council Tax rise of 3.5%, less than 11p a week for a Band D taxpayer, will be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 16 February. For Band B taxpayers, the largest number of properties in St Edmundsbury, the rise is 8p a week.
St Edmundsbury's proposed rise follows a Government grant of 3%, after taking out the money which needs to be set aside for funding free concessionary bus travel in the coming year. A report to be discussed by Cabinet shows that if £1.339 million in savings had not been identified for 2006/07 through the DR-IVE (Dynamic Review - Innovation, Value, Enterprise) initiative then St Edmundsbury's Council Tax rise would have needed to rise by 27%.
Cabinet member for Resources, Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, said:
"At St Edmundsbury we have promised to reduce Council Tax rises year on year and we have done this through prudent financial management and by identifying innovative ways of making savings. We will continue to take a detailed look at every single service in the coming years because we need to find over £2 million of savings to keep Council Tax rises to a minimum. In cash terms for the taxpayer, the Government grant is 7%, or £14, less than it was 13 years ago, and yet over that time more and more demands have been placed on us. The combination of less cash but more demands from central Government leaves the Council Tax payer facing ever increasing costs. "
Cabinet will make a recommendation on the Council Tax level to full Council, which will take the final decision on 23 February. If approved, St Edmundsbury's share of the Council Tax would be £161.64 for a Band D taxpayer (about 12% of the Council Tax goes to St Edmundsbury, the rest goes to the county council and police).
ENDS
ISSUED BY MARIANNE HULLAND, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757034. marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
