Council Tax to be cut

Date:  02 February 2010

The Council Tax charged by the District Council is to be cut by an average of 0.5% from April it has been announced. The decision was made as part of the budget setting agreed at Full Council last night (16 February 2010). The new budget takes into account savings of over £1.24M which have been made by the Council in the last two years.

Three Rivers' cabinet member for resources, Cllr Matthew Bedford, said:  

"Three Rivers has a strong record of affordable, high quality services and we are making further improvements. We have consulted residents and the vast majority want services to either increase slightly or remain the same.

"I'm delighted that we are able to provide both an increase in services and facilities for next year while making a reduction in Council Tax. Recent savings have been made in part by sharing back office functions with Watford Borough Council. We are aiming to hold down Council Tax not just this year but over the long term."

The average charge for a Band D property for the year starting in April will be £155.74. Including the Parish component, the Band D average charge will be £192.78.

District Councillors rejected last night a recommendation from the local Independent Remuneration Panel for a 1% increase in their allowance.

Three Rivers District Council and the Parish Councils currently receive 13 pence in the pound of Council Tax paid. The remainder goes to the County Council and Police services.

Three Rivers District Council was officially judged to be performing well by the Audit Commission's Comprehensive Area Assessment earlier this year.  

Full Council is open to the public. Council meetings are listed here.  

Hertfordshire County Council have frozen Council Tax at the 2009/2010 rates. More information is available here.