Green light for increase in tax and parking fees

CANTERBURY city council is set to rubber stamp next year’s budget tonight (Thursday) – which will see a rise in bills for council tax, parking and other services.

The increases will start in April as the city council looks to balance the books as it attempts to make more than £1 million in savings.

Members will discuss the proposals at a full council meeting at the Guildhall at 7pm, with leaders from all parties expected to outline their priorities.

Finance portfolio holder Cllr Peter Lee says the authority has been under extra pressure this year because of a 7% reduction in government funding when it had been expecting a 1.2% cut.

Proposals include a controversial 1.99% rise in council tax, which local government minister Eric Pickles described as “dodging democracy” because a 2% increase would have needed a public referendum.

However, council leader John Gilbey says the authority faces no choice if services are to be maintained or improved.

Other measures include increasing parking charges with on-street pay and display tariffs increasing by 10p an hour, plus rising costs for on-street permits.

The cost of using park and ride will also go up from £2.50 to £3.

A public consultation on the proposals was launched last year with 30 responses, half of which commented on the new parking charges, with some for and against the rises.

The new charges could boost council coffers by almost £50,000.

Full details of the budget proposals, which include every service offered by the city council, are available on the council’s website at www.canterbury.gov.uk

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