COUNCIL SETS SIGHTS ON ADDING VALUE IN NEW BUDGET

By Alex Perkins, Liberal Democrat Canterbury City Council Leader

 

More cash for housing, kids, and neighbourhood development as well sports pitches, museums, and galleries - all without breaking the bank. That’s the aim of the Council Executive as it decides on Council tax levels for 2005.

Leader of the Council Alex Perkins said:

“We know that we are getting our main council services right – that’s why we have been designated an “excellent” council by the Audit Commission. Now we can focus on continuing to provide these services, as well as developing our 'added value' services to the community through increased funding for leisure facilities such as The Kings Hall in Herne Bay, new neighbourhood development schemes, and events such as the British Food Festival and the Eurofair.”

The Council’s Liberal Democrat-led Executive believes in providing not only core services such as refuse collection, but also in making a contribution to the life of the community by adding value - through investment in community development, sport and recreation, children and youth services. We are also fully funding grant requests from our local parish councils in order to improve services in rural areas.

“With the government handing out a larger than expected subsidy this year in the run-up to the general election, and by using income generated through The Marlowe Theatre and car parking, we can provide all of our core and extra services at an increased cost of just 11 pence per week to the average Council tax Payer” (based on a Band D home), Alex continued .

“However, residents should be aware that Kent County Council have set their own increases representing the lion’s share of Council Tax bills. This year Tory-run Kent County Council are increasing council tax by over 3.9% per household. The City Council only receives around 12% of the council tax.

“We are delighted that we will be able to fund a wide range of services that will add value to the community through such a small rise in Council tax, and we will continue to put pressure on Tory-run KCC to fix the roads and pavements as local people to tell us that is where they would like their money to be spent.”

More on this story :
Axe the Tax : why Council Tax is unfair (Council Leader Alex Perkins)
Council Tax system in permanent crisis (Edward Davey MP)
One-off grant settlements no substitute for action (Chris Clarke OBE)