Lowest council tax rise for years

Archived press release

Date Published: 09/02/09

AVDC provides many local services for an average cost of less than £2.50 each week.

Aylesbury Vale District Council has approved its lowest increase in council tax for 10 years.

The below-inflation rise of two per cent means people living in a Band D property will pay £128.57 for district council services over the next financial year, an increase of £2.53 or five pence per week.

AVDC provides many local services – from collecting rubbish and cleaning streets to maintaining parks and open spaces – all for an average cost of less than £2.50 each week.

Councillors approved spending of £20.33 million on delivering services in the next financial year – £11.74 million of which comes from government grant. The 2009/10 budget, agreed by the full council on 4 February, is aimed at minimising the financial impact on residents during the difficult economic climate while helping the council maintain essential services.

AVDC, like many other local authorities in the country, is experiencing financial pressures because of reduced income from services and lower returns on investments. To help balance the books the council has delivered £1.7 million in efficiency savings with only a minimal impact on front-line services.

Councillor Margaret Morgan-Owen, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “We are acutely aware of the difficult financial situation facing the people of Aylesbury Vale at this time of recession. The council must do all it can to help ease the burden – not only clamping down on a council tax increase but also maintaining services that support residents. That’s why we have worked hard to keep the council tax increase to a minimum.

“We’re also doing our best to help the local economy and retailers will be pleased to hear that we have frozen car parking charges. We believe this is a sound and responsible budget for uncertain times.”

At present AVDC receives around 10 pence of every pound of council tax collected, with the remaining 90 pence going to the county council, the police and fire authorities and town and parish councils.

Although the district council is required to collect the whole of the council tax, it has no control over the levels at which the other precepting bodies set their portions of the council tax. The final council tax for 2009/10 will be set on 25 February.