Basingstoke council pegs council tax for third year in a row
The borough council decided at a meeting in Basingstoke yesterday (Thursday) to freeze its slice of the overall bill for 2013/14.
This means the average band D property across the borough will pay £104.44 to the borough council.
Three extra items were added to the council’s budget, including £0.5m for a community support fund to be used to help those struggling with changes in benefits and housing.
There will also be an extra £0.5m for schemes for those affected by overcrowded parking in residential areas and £1m for green investments, supporting reducing energy/renewable energy borough-wide.
Council leader, Clive Sanders, also borough councillor for East Woodhay (Con), said the council aimed to provide value for money:
“We must provide the right services in the right way at the right cost. We are continuing to listen to our communities and deliver services that meet local needs,” said Mr Sanders, adding the council aimed to make best use of the council’s assets and attract investment.
The budget, he continued, recognised financial pressures, while setting new initiatives in motion, adding:
“I want this borough to be an exceptional borough in which to work and live and I want it to be so, not just for us now but for our children and our children’s children.”
Despite a falling government grant and rising costs, the council says it has made £7m in savings over the last five years to balance the books and focus resources on services such as community safety, collecting rubbish and recycling and street cleaning.
Hampshire County Council has also recently (February 21) decided to peg its slice of the council tax bill from April, for the fourth consecutive year, meaning the average band D property will pay £1037.88 to the county council.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority has also frozen it’s payment, and for the third year in a row, following a meeting yesterday (Thursday). The average band D property will continue to pay £61.38 to the authority from April and for the year 2013/14.
Bucking this 'trend' to peg council tax, Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Hayes, has raised the amount for policing services in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight by 3.4 per cent from April and in his first budget since being appointed to the post in November.
The payment for an average band D property will rise to £151.25 in 2013/14 for policing services in Hampshire and the Isle of White.
Pointing out it was the first time in two years the policing element of the council tax bill had risen, Mr Hayes blamed the hike on Government cuts.
To be added into the total bill are North Hampshire town and village precepts for 2013/14 - which were also set at the borough council’s February 28 meeting - as follows:
Ashford Hill with Headley £32.37
Ashmansworth £28.68
Baughurst £34.34
Burghclere £17.38
East Woodhay £19.48
Ecchinswell,Sydmonton and Bishops Green £25.65
Hannington £18.04
Highclere £18.32
Kingsclere £ 31.70
Mortimer West End £35.90
Newtown £26.30
Pamber £21.62
Silchester £35.00
Tadley £47.03
The lowest precept among the above North Hampshire towns/villages was Burghclere - £17.38.
Highest was Tadley (£47.03) - more than twice the Burghclere precept.