The leadership of Thanet District Council is to recommend freezing Council Tax for a fourth consecutive year, despite a further significant reduction in its formula grant from central government.
The council’s Cabinet will consider the 2014/15 budget proposals when it meets next week (Tuesday 21 January at 7pm).
It is expected to propose no increase in residents’ bills once again, despite having to find an additional £850k to offset the loss of income from former Ramsgate ferry operator Transeuropa.
Overall the council has identified £1.2m of savings to reduce its net revenue budget requirement from £19.3m in the current year to £17.9m in 2014/15. Almost £400k of this reduction has come from tasking managers to save 20 per cent of their budgets for items like printing, stationery and equipment purchase, with another £100k from contract savings.
Cllr Rick Everitt, Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “I am delighted that despite the acute financial pressures on the council, we are in a position to make no increase in Council Tax for a fourth year running.
“We recognise that most residents are still feeling the pinch financially and we have been determined not to add to their problems.
“Equally important, I am confident local people will notice no reduction in front-line services as a result of this budget.
“Council staff at all levels have made their share of sacrifices to keep costs down and this also needs to be noted with our appreciation.”
The likely standstill means that the Thanet District Council element of bills for a band D household will remain at £209.97 a year and the council will benefit from a government freeze grant of £80k, equivalent to a 1% rise in Council Tax.
A final decision on TDC’s Council Tax will be taken by Full Council at its meeting on Thursday 6 February. The council last increased its share of residents’ bills in 2010.
However, the amount residents pay in Council Tax overall could still increase, depending on decisions reached by Kent County Council and the other precepting authorities, including the Isle’s towns and parishes.
Thanet District Council collects Council Tax on behalf of other authorities. Its share is only 14% of the overall bill. The rest is split between Kent County Council (71%), The Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent (10%), Kent Fire and Rescue Service (5%), and the town and parish councils or charter trustees.
Date: 13 January 2014
PR No: 3783
Status: For Immediate Release
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