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Babergh District Council is considering a Council Tax increase for next year of 3.1% - the rate of inflation. If approved, this will be the fourth time in the last six years that the Council has managed to keep its Council Tax increase to the rate of inflation.
Colin Spence, Vice-Chairman of the Strategy Committee, says that “the Council understands the public’s concern about Council Tax increases and has a clear aim of doing its best to achieve Council Tax increases that do not exceed the rate of inflation. So, we are very pleased to be considering an increase not exceeding inflation. Councillors and officers have worked hard to achieve a budget for next year, which is only 2% more than for the current year. After allowance is made for the necessity to take less from reserves next year, an inflation increase is achieved.”
Achieving an increase in expenditure of only 2%, whilst spending £200,000 more on some of the public’s key priorities for service improvement, has only been made possible by the Council finding significant staff and other savings of £520,000 and additional income of £160,000. But this will not be at the expense of service provision. There will not be any reduction in the standard of services which the public receive. In fact, some services such as support for rural communities and opportunities for young people will improve as a result of additional funding.
So this is a budget which is intended to meet the needs and expectations of the district’s residents for the coming year.
The final decision on Council Tax levels will be made on 24 February, when the requirements of Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Police Authority and Babergh District Council, as well as the Parish/Town Councils in the district are known.
More information on council tax charges. |