19 February 2010 (GV.0702)                                                                                                                  (1/2)

 

 

LOWEST DISTRICT COUNCIL TAX INCREASE FOR 10 YEARS

 

At last night’s Council meeting it was agreed the district’s council tax increase would be just £4.69 for the whole year, for a Band D property. This is an increase of around 9 pence a week and gives a Band D Council Tax level of £193.62.

 

Tandridge District Council provides a wide range of services such as refuse collection and recycling, planning, concessionary bus fares, street sweeping, housing benefits and recreation.

 

Surrey County Council, which provides services including education, adult social care, children services and highways, together with the Surrey Police Authority have also set their Band D level for 2010/2011 as follows:

 

                                                 2009/2010             2010/2011            increase                increase

                                                        £                           £                     per week                      %

Tandridge District Council         188.93                  193.62                       9p                          2.48

Surrey County Council            1,089.18               1,116.36                     52p                          2.50

Surrey Police                             193.86                  198.54                       9p                          2.41   

 

 

This gives an overall Band D Council Tax level of £1508.52 for the district, compared with £1,471.97 for last year, an increase of 2.5%.  An average increase across the district including parish precepts is still 2.5%.

 

People on income support or guaranteed pension credit who have no non-dependants will have the additional cost of council tax fully met by council tax benefit.  Other people on council tax benefit will automatically have their benefit recalculated to reflect their revised council tax bills.

 

 

 

 

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Chairman of Resources Committee, Councillor Martin Fisher, said: “I am very pleased Tandridge has been able to set the lowest council tax increase for 10 years.  In spite of the recession and one of the lowest government grant settlements in England, we continue to demonstrate sound financial management. Working together, staff volunteered to forego their cost of living pay increase for 2010/2011 and councillors voted to freeze their allowances. We continue to offer value for money by concentrating council tax expenditure on providing and supporting front line services.

 

“Weekly recycling has increased to over 30% and we have kept the weekly back door waste collection service. We have reduced the number of households living in temporary accommodation and through the Planning Core Strategy protected our Green Belt and won an above average 74% of appeals. We continue to provide shoppers free parking to support local businesses. In the words of the Audit Commission ‘we have made savings and improved services’. “

 

 

For more information contact Alistair Montgomery, Chief Finance Officer, on 01883 732902, e-mail accountants@tandridge.gov.uk.

 

 

 

 

For more information contact Giuseppina Valenza, Communications Manager, on 01883 732704.

 

Party spokesmen: Councillor Gordon Keymer (Con) 01883 717363 and Councillor Chris Botten (LD) 07917 862130.