COUNCIL TAX BILL FROZEN
‘NOT A PENNY MORE’, ALTHOUGH OVERALL BILLS SET TO INCREASE
A COUNCIL has voted to freeze its share of the council tax bill for the coming year, despite the pressures Covid-19 has heaped on its finances.
Residents have been told they will have to pay “not a penny more’” for district council services in North West Leicestershire from April by its Conservative leader, Councillor Richard Blunt.
This week, the Tory administration had its financial plan for the next year voted through.
Coun Blunt admitted there were challenges ahead for the council, but said he was proud that there would be no increase in its precept for the 12th consecutive year.
However, the council’s Labour opposition said it was disingenuous, as the Tory-run county council has already agreed to raise its share of the bill by five per cent and there would be increases in precepts for policing and the fire service.
Council tax bills are made up of various precepts, from the county council, district or borough councils, parish councils, the fire service and the police.
Councillor Nick Rushton is the district council’s cabinet member for finance, and also the Leicestershire County Council leader.
He said: “We have saved the taxpayer £400 since the freeze was introduced (in 2009) and I am sure our council tax payers are more than happy to have £400 in their pockets and not in our pockets.”
A band D home in the district will pay £158.58 to the council next year for its part of the bill.
Coun Rushton also said £97 million would be spent by the district on capital projects over the next two years.
Coun Blunt said: “We work hard to keep our finances healthy, plan for the future and make sensible investments so that we are able to consistently freeze our portion of council tax, which we are now doing for the 12th consecutive year.
“We felt this was especially important this year given the challenges our communities have faced due to Covid-19 and the financial pressure many are feeling as a result.
“We’re proud to continue to deliver high quality services to the people of North West Leicestershire while providing exceptional value for money.”
The council’s budget also set out plans to invest a further £3 million into Coalville regeneration over the next three years.
Coun Blunt added: “The decision not to award Coalville funding from the government’s Future High Street Fund was a huge disappointment for us, but has served to re-double our determination to deliver for Coalville, even if it means we have to do things the hard way.
“We’re starting to see some real positive change in the town – Newmarket is near completion, the Snibston site regeneration is fantastic, and the new private owners of the Belvoir Centre have started to outline their investment plans.”
The Conservatives will increase council house rents by 1.5 per cent, which they say is in line with the government policy.
Tory councillors voted against a Labour amendment to limit the increase to 0.5 per cent, which group leader Shaun Sheahan said was at inflation, adding: “It’s just to give tenants a bit of relief and the council can afford it.”
The Tories argued such a move would cut the amount available to invest in council homes with the administration saying it was committing £5.1 million to buying and building new council houses.