Hertfordshire council tax rise gets thumbs-up

CABINET members have recommended an increase in the county council's tax precept. Councillors backed a proposal to raise the authority's share of the tax by 3.5 per cent for the coming financial year. In real terms, this increase equates to an extra 70p a

CABINET members have recommended an increase in the county council's tax precept.

Councillors backed a proposal to raise the authority's share of the tax by 3.5 per cent for the coming financial year.

In real terms, this increase equates to an extra 70p a week for an average Band D property.

Speaking about the rise, executive member for resources, David Lloyd said: "We have been mindful of the current economic climate and are proposing a budget which we feel is a fair deal for the people of Hertfordshire.

"We are delivering more than �17.4m of efficiency savings in order to strike a balance between maintaining services and keeping the council tax rise to a minimum."

The county council's grant from the Government increased by 1.75 per cent this year, which is less than the national average of 2.84 per cent. And Cllr Lloyd said: "It has been a real challenge to keep this rise as low as possible in light of another poor funding settlement from the Government and millions of pounds worth of extra costs."

But despite this, he added: "We are still able to propose a forward-thinking budget without too heavy a burden on the taxpayers of Hertfordshire."

The increase will next be considered at a meeting of the full council on February 24, when it will either be agreed or rejected.

It will then be added to the precepts from the borough council, town or parish council where applicable, and police authority, to produce a final council tax bill.