A COUNCIL tax freeze has been proposed by Uttlesford District Council this week.
Cabinet member for finance and administration, Cllr Robert Chambers, said: “The council is in good financial shape and I am delighted we have been able to draft a budget which continues to protect frontline services while making more money available to the community for worthwhile projects.”
The freeze for the second year running is a key feature of the authority’s spending and revenue plans for 2012/13, according to details just published ahead of next week’s scrutiny committee meeting.
Other headline features include: no cuts to frontline services; £26,000 extra in grants to the voluntary sector; £10,000 for training Special Constables; £30,000 for economic development work to encourage business growth in the district; and £20,000 for community-led planning - such as helping parish councils develop parish plans.
In all the council needs to raise £4,972,771, which would mean an Uttlesford Band D council tax bill would be £147.42 per year, the same as 2011, if the proposals get the green light.
Cllr Chambers said: “Economic times remain tough so I am pleased that we have built in a further freeze in the district element of council tax from April which, if approved, should help all residents.
“It is testament to the council's continued focus on financial stability that has meant we have been able to draw up this budget while still accommodating a further 13.8 per cent cut in the money we receive from central Government - a reduction of £430,000.
“All public sector bodies face a challenging few years as the coalition government's deficit reduction programme continues, but I believe Uttlesford District Council is as well-placed as any organisation to deal with it."
The budget will be subject to examination by the scrutiny committee at its meeting on Tuesday, February 7, before going on to cabinet on Thursday, February 16 and then full council for approval on Thursday, February 23.
The Uttlesford element of total household council tax bills is around 10 per cent - Essex County Council receives approximately 73 per cent and the remainder is split between the county’s police and fire authorities and town or parish councils. Last year total Band D bills were around £1,432 before the variable parish precept.
Essex County Council’s Cabinet is currently also recommending a freeze to its full council meeting on Tuesday, February 7.
