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Council Tax to rise in Bracknell
By Lorna CatlingFebruary 12, 2009
Council tax is set to rise by 4.9 per cent in Bracknell – almost the maximum increase allowed by the Government.
The increase will see the bill for a Band D property go up to £1,062.63 – still one of the lowest in the country.
A survey of 501 residents showed 54 per cent would be willing to pay up to a five per cent increase in Council Tax.
Are you really willing to pay a five per cent increase in Council Tax? Why? Have a say here.
The amount to be paid by each household in the borough is less than Wokingham and Reading charged last year.
The maximum amount any council can raise Council Tax by is five per cent, according to Government rules.
Councillor Alan Ward, executive member for finance, resources and assets, said: “I can’t stress enough times that it is the lowest of any unitary authority in the country.
“But if you are the recipient of the bill you don’t know it’s the lowest, and if it’s gone up by 4.9 per cent then that’s a lot more.
“What I need to stress is that we spend a huge amount of our budget on vulnerable people and if we didn’t have this increase then they are the first people who would actually suffer.”
Budget proposals for 2009/2010 outline plans to invest £1 million supporting vulnerable people and £400,000 on waste disposal.
To balance the budget, £2.2 million will be taken from the council’s reserves and a contingency fund will be increased from £200,000 to £400,000.
Councillor Paul Bettison, leader of the council, said: “We understand the impact the economic downturn is having on residents, so taking funds from council balances ensures that we can continue to support the borough’s most vulnerable residents during this difficult time.
“We will continue to work hard to provide local residents with good quality, value for money services in the coming year, and I am pleased that once again we have not only one of the lowest Council Tax rates in the country, but some of the best services.”
Figures in the budget estimated the recession and downturn in interest rates have cost the council more than £2 million.
Borough treasurer Chris Herbert said: “We are in unprecedented times but the pressures are no different to other years, the difference is they are more uncertain and can have bigger consequences.
“We have delivered the budget for the last ten years and we have had some difficult years in there.”
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