Kent County Council agrees 2.1 per cent council tax rise
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by
political editor Paul Francis
Council taxpayers face a 2.1 per cent hike in their bills
this year after the county council confirmed its spending plans for
the year.
The increase was voted through at the authority's annual budget
meeting today.
The increase means average bills for householders in Band D
homes will rise to £1,047.78 up £22.39 on last year.
KCC's Conservative administration said the increase was the
lowest in the 17 years of the council tax.
A last-minute agreement with the Government over money KCC was
owed to meet the costs of looking after asylum seekers means a
planned increase of 2.4 per cent to cover the outstanding sum was
dropped.
Ministers agreed to KCC demands to repay about three quarters of
£4million that the council has incurred in asylum costs.
The county council, which has an annual budget of some
£2.2billion, had wanted to set a tax rise of 1.86 per cent but said
it could only do so if the Government agreed to
re-imburse grants outstanding for looking after asylum
seekers.
KCC leader Cllr Paul
carter said the authority's spending plans were against a backdrop
of a continuing squeeze on the public sector. He said despite
inadequate Government grants, KCC's budget was "sensible, pragmatic
and practical based on our track record of excellence".
The increase of 2.1 per cent was among the lowest being set by
similar authorities, he added. "I believe we are setting a fit and
appropriate budget for this year."
But he warned that while this year's budget would safeguard key
services the following two years would be more uncertain. "The next
two years would be a step into the unknown [because] we do not know
what a new Government will impose on us."
Opposition Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Trudy Dean said her
party would be putting forward measures that would allow there to
be a freeze on council tax levels. These included the scrapping of
KCC's 'Healthwatch' initiative.
"Our view is that it is not our job in the current climate to
put additional burdens on to residents," she said.
Cllr Les Christie (Labour) said the Conservative administration
could not claim to have been shortchanged by the Government and at
the same time propose a low council tax increase. "The
administration cannot have it all ways," he said.
The council has pledged that if the money is eventually
recouped, KCC will consider cutting bills by the relevant amount
next year.
Despite an increase in Government grants of 3.2 per cent, KCC
says that amounts to less than £8.5million, well short of what it
says is needed to meet a rising demand for key services.
As part of its budget plans for 2010-2011, the council will
provide an additional £6.5million to support vulnerable adults,;
£5.3million to strengthen childrens social services to meet
an to meet the 21.2% increase in referrals in the wake of the
tragic Baby Peter case, plus £10m to meet the additional
costs supporting a £1.5billion capital programme
The meeting will also confirm that KCC staff will also be given
no pay rise this year.
Wednesday, February 17 2010
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