Lowest Council Tax Increase in Over a Decade

Published on 28 January 2010

A below inflation Council Tax increase of 1.5 per cent will be recommended when Epping Forest District Councillors consider next year’s budget. The move has been described as a ‘Recession Beating Budget’ by Finance Portfolio Holder Councillor Chris Whitbread.

Councillor Whitbread said: “If the meeting of the Full Council on 16 February confirms the recommendations, the District Council’s share of Council Tax paid by a resident in a Band D property will go up by just four pence per week. The last thing our residents need is a big Council Tax increase. We are a low-tax Council and this is probably the lowest increase since Council Tax replaced the Community Charge 20 years ago."

“Strong finances built up over recent years have enabled us to plan a record low increase.” Councillor Whitbread explained: “We provide good quality service, the Council is debt-free and we have made sure that the Council was in a healthy condition to weather the economic storm.”

He continued: “The recession has cut our income dramatically. Income from investments is down due to low interest rates. We believe that because of the state of the Government’s finances we are likely to see our support grant cut. However, far-sighted financial planning and a range of efficiency savings amounting to over £1 million over three years will allow us to retain quality services and keep the district Council Tax increase down to just a few pence a week. This is a budget that is designed to help our residents during these hard times.”

Epping Forest District Council provides services ranging from planning control to environmental health, refuse collection and recycling. It contracts out the management of leisure centres and swimming pools, provides around 6,500 Council houses for rent plus shops and industrial units for small and medium businesses.

The Broadway Town Centre Enhancement was the latest major investment in the district’s infrastructure.

The District Council has also supported individuals and businesses during the recession. It froze car park charges, assisted small businesses with rent rebates during Town Centre Enhancement works and has made small grants available to people in danger of losing their homes through rent arrears and repossessions.

It provides much of the funding for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and other voluntary organisations that have supported people through the recession. It has worked in partnership with the Federation of Small Businesses and other employment organisations to boost local jobs.

Comprehensive information on beating the recession can be found in the Credit Crunch Forester:

• Forester Issue 60 Credit Crunch Special (pdf 5.1MB)

Councillor Whitbread added: “We are here to serve our community. This is a strong budget. We expect dramatic Central Government cuts from next year. This budget sets out our priority to protect our frontline services and to maintain our position as a good value low Council Tax Authority.”

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