Wealden plans new tax freeze

Wealden District Council is planning to freeze its portion of the council tax for the coming year.

Bob Standley, Leader of the Council, said: “Thanks to Government support for those councils who limit expenditure rises to below 2.5 per cent, we are able to propose a zero council tax increase for 2012/13 which I am sure will be very welcome to residents."

He said the council’s Transformation Programme, launched nearly three years ago, had delivered substantial savings and when “fully implemented, will deliver savings of over £3 million a year while maintaining key services”.

The council will be consulting on its proposed council tax freeze before a final decision is made by full council on February 15.

It will mean the Wealden element of residents' total council tax bill will remain at £174.06 for an average Band D property for the third year in a row - which is the equivalent of £3.35 a week.

This helps pays for a wide range of services including kerbside recycling collections for every household, public health and environmental protection, a comprehensive planning service, housing support, leisure centres and benefits for people with limited means.

The council said the budget proposals do not allow for a general pay increase for staff nor an increase in councillors’ expenses.

It will be the third year that Wealden staff have had no general pay rise and the fourth year that councillors' allowances have been frozen. There will be provision in the budget for the council's lowest paid staff to receive a small increase in line with Government policy.

The full council tax bill for a Wealden household includes payments to East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire & Rescue and local parish and town councils.

(Added to site Monday, December 19th, 2011)