Archived press release

Date Published: 17/01/08

Residents in Aylesbury Vale are facing an average council tax rise of just nine pence per week for the wide range of services they receive from the district council. AVDC’s cabinet this week agreed to recommend a four per cent ris...

Residents in Aylesbury Vale are facing an average council tax rise of just nine pence per week for the wide range of services they receive from the district council.

AVDC’s cabinet this week agreed to recommend a four per cent rise for 2008/9, which equates to an extra nine pence per week or £4.83 a year on a Band D property. Householders in the average Band D property would pay £126.04 for the year.

The decision comes as other councils are warning they may struggle to keep council tax rises below the government's five per cent ceiling.

Once again the council has been able to maintain services and keep the council tax increase at a low level despite continuing budgetary and inflationary pressures.

Prudent financial management has meant that AVDC has been able to deliver a first class service to local people whilst balancing its budget. As a result, council tax rises have been kept to an absolute minimum.

The low increase has been achieved despite a disappointing national settlement from the government of only £214,000 extra which has to be spread over all the council services. This will not go very far towards meeting inflation costs of £1.2 million let alone the growing demand for services.

AVDC is planning to spend £20 million on services in 2008/9, of which £11.6 million will be provided by the government and £8.4 million will be raised through council tax.

In addition, the cabinet is recommending a capital programme of more than £100 million over the next four years. Some of the major spending initiatives in the programme are:
• The construction of the new theatre in Aylesbury
• Working with partners to deliver social housing across the district
• A new multi-storey car park in Walton Street, Aylesbury
• Extension of the car park in Wendover
• The relocation of Aylesbury Shopmobility

Councillor John Cartwright, Leader of the Council, said: “Our low tax increase has been achieved through careful planning, prudent financial management and keeping the budget process focused on the council’s key priorities to deliver the most effective and efficient services. Whilst we have balanced the budget this year there are concerns over the disappointing increase in government funding. The money received from government each year is simply not covering a fair share of our costs. Despite this, we are keeping our council tax increase below the five per cent cap that the government is imposing on councils. We will continue to ensure that local residents receive value for money whilst benefiting from improved services as we keep council tax increases as low as possible.”

Around ten per cent of each household’s annual council tax is kept by AVDC. The rest of the bill goes to the county council, Bucks Fire and Rescue Service, Thames Valley Police and local parish councils.

The council uses its share of the council tax to help pay for services such as refuse collections and street cleaning, car parks, leisure centres and planning services.

The final decision on the council’s budget, council tax and capital programme will be made at a meeting of the full council on 6 February.