No Council Tax Increase for Residents

CHARNWOOD Borough Council has announced plans to freeze council tax increases for the second year running.

The Council’s Cabinet approved the plan as part of the 2012/13 budget proposal which must now be ratified by Full Council on February 27.

It includes proposals to freeze Council Tax and the Loughborough Special Rate for the second consecutive year and outlines how the Council has reduced its spending by £300,000 in the last 12 months without impacting services.

Councillor Tom Barkley, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Finance, said: “We’re delighted to be able to propose freezing council tax increases for the second consecutive year to help the people of Charnwood get through this difficult financial time.

“Not only that, but this budget outlines savings of around £1.3 million. We are also proposing a £150,000 new Growth Support Fund to help communities throughout the borough.

“All of this is being achieved without impacting on any services to our customers and once again highlights how the Council’s prudent financial management has put us in a relatively strong position as we move into the next financial year.”

The Council’s total spending for 2012/13 is more than £500,000 lower than the level of 2006/07.

Other highlights of the budget include:

• The launch of the self-financing scheme for housing will allow the Council to spend an extra £1.9 million on improving its housing stock in 2012/13

• Average Council house rents will increase by £4.80 per week from £61.82 to £66.52 per week as set nationally

• £41.5 million will be invested on improvements to Council housing over three years

• Nearly £1.9 million will be spent over three years on grants to private householders to help with disabled adaptations in their own homes.
• Community Facilities Grants of £150k in the first two years to help parishes and towns to renovate and improve community buildings.