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Published:
February 13, 2008
District
council approves 4.5 per cent increase in council tax rates
 Sedgemoor
District Council will boost its coffers by around £200,000
following a decision on Wednesday (February 13th) to set its proportion
of the Council Tax at 4.5 per cent.
The
increase equates to a rise of £5.23 per year for a Band
D property, totalling £121.38.
A
one per cent increase on the Council Tax raises around £45,000
for Sedgemoor District Council, and the extra funds will be mainly
channelled towards its key priorities of housing, regeneration
and the environment.
The
figures were set at a special budget meeting on Wednesday, where
councillors also agreed to pay £9,000 towards the cost of
cleaning Brean Beach on condition that Brean Parish Council also
sets aside a similar budget.
 The
Leader of the district council, Cllr Duncan McGinty, pictured,
said: "I
am sure all of you are aware that this has been the most difficult
budget that we have had to deal with, primarily because it is
becoming impossibly difficult to make ends meet with the resources
that are available."
"The
Local Government Association has described this year's funding
settlement as the worst in ten years for Local Government. Central
government's commitment to us over the next three years is one
of reducing support despite escalating cost."
"Sedgemoor,
like many other councils across the country, faces the challenge
of balancing its budget each year as the cost of services rises
faster than the resources available to meet those costs. As such,
we have to prioritise the services we deliver. This involves making
difficult decisions in some services where we are not able to
invest further."
"This
year has seen some very difficult decisions having to be taken
by this Council. However in the spirit of the recent Government
White Paper which encourages joint delivery of services we are
pleased that by working with the Town and Parish Councils and
joint funding, some facilities we will be able to retain some
services and facilities that had been under threat of closure."
"The
Council has worked hard this year to meet the challenges of delivering
a balanced budget. We have for many years sought to keep Council
Taxes as low as possible and maintain Council services. The Council
is proud of its record, over the years, of maintaining the lowest
Council Tax across the county and has managed to contain increases
for the coming year to only 4.5% - under the 5% capping limit
- rising from £116.15 to £121.38 or 10p per week."
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