Council Tax to rise by 4.9 per cent

COUNCIL Tax in North Herts will rise by 4.9 per cent.

The increase was given the go-ahead at a special meeting of North Herts District Council on Thursday evening.

And Cllr Terry Hone, finance portfolio holder, said that without "significant savings" the district council would have been looking at an increase of 13 per cent.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Hone said that improved investment income and "prudent use of balances" had kept the increase in line with the council's policy of producing a rise of no more than 2 per centage points above inflation.

The increase, he said, had remained within the Government's capping limits of 5 per cent.

And the district council would still have £9.2 million to spend on capital projects over the 2007-08 period.

Extra money had been allocated in the budget for pilot schemes to be introduced to reduce all-day parking in residential areas, he said.

"The cost of all district council services to someone in a Band D property remains at under 50 pence a day," said Cllr Hone.

He said priority spending would include moves to safeguard the environment, improve safety and enhance recycling.

Cllr F John Smith, the leader of the council, said the local authority's priority was to continue to provide good quality services and value for money.

He said he wanted to see the budget spent on meeting the aspirations of residents.

Cllr Smith said the district council was meeting its commitments to recycling and the increased use of technology to improve access to services.

This, said Cllr Smith, was in spite of funding arrangement which now see about 40 per cent of money coming from the Government and 60 per cent from Council Tax.

The increase represented 16 pence-a-week for Band D Council Tax payers.