NO INCREASE TO COUNCIL TAX FROM THANET COUNCIL

Thanet residents should see no increase in Thanet District Council’s share of the Council Tax, following proposals put forward by the council.

Cabinet Members agreed the proposals at their meeting last night (Thursday 10 February), as part of the overall budget plans for 2011/12.

They were told that the council’s grant from central government has been confirmed at £11.6 million for the next financial year, a reduction of 5.29%.

By deciding to freeze the District Council element of the Council Tax for 2011/12, the council will receive a grant from the government, which is equivalent to a 2.5% increase on the level of Council Tax. A zero increase is also proposed for 2012/13, followed by plans for an increase of just 2.5% for the following two years. This means that a Band D property in Thanet will pay just over £4 a week for the District Council’s share of the Council Tax.

Leader of the Council, Cllr. Bob Bayford, said: “This has been the toughest budget in many years, with the council, along with the rest of the public sector, facing funding cuts of a level never seen before. With the additional funding the government is offering councils who freeze Council Tax, we are proposing no increase in our element of the tax. That’s been an incredible achievement, given what we have had to work with and something that I’m sure residents will warmly welcome.”

The budget proposals will now go forward to a meeting of the full council on Thursday 24 February, when a final decision will be made.