Council Tax frozen as Council sets £607 million budget for 2010-11

11th February 2010

The Highland Council has confirmed a freeze on the Council Tax for a third year in succession. The tax for 2010-11 is: Band A: £775.33; Band B: £904.56; C: £1,033.78; Band D: £1,163; Band E: £1,421.44; Band F: £1,679.89; Band G: £1,938.33; Band H: £2,326

In setting the budget of £607.2 million for 2010-11, the Council has found savings of £12.1 million in 2010-11; identified further savings of £11 million in 2011-12 and 2012-13; and estimates that savings of £36 million still require to be found in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

At a special meeting today (Thursday 11th February 2010), the Council confirmed savings in its three biggest spending Services, namely Education Culture and Sport, Social Work and Transport Environmental and Community Services, as well as the Joint Committee for Children and Young People. Savings in Chief Executive's, Finance, Housing and Property and Planning and Development were agreed at the Council's meeting in December.

Council Budget Leader Councillor David Alston said the Council is to consult widely before agreeing budgets for 2011-12, 2012-13 in the autumn of this year.

A Citizens' Panel is to be established to act as a sounding board on a range of Council issues, including the budget. Soon the Council will be writing to 14,000 Highland households to identify Council Tax payers who are prepared to be consulted on Council issues. It is hoped the panel will comprise more than 2,000 people. The budget options will also be aired at Ward Forums.

Councillor Alston, Budget Leader, said: "In setting our budget for the coming financial year, we have made every effort to protect frontline services and the grants we provide to voluntary organisations. The public can be assured that we are reviewing everything we do to ensure we do things that people want and that we deliver services as effectively and efficiently as possible. We want to safeguard future services by planning ahead and by listening to the public's views about their priorities."

The Council also agreed to peg council house rents for 2010-11 to 1.3% - an average weekly increase of 83p.

The increase will see the average council house rent increasing from £63.92 per week to £64.75 per week (over 48 weekly charges).

The increase also applies to hostel rents, garage and garage site rents, service charges, sheltered housing warden charges, homeless charges, gypsy/traveller pitches.

Full details of the budget proposals for Highland Council all of which were passed a the special council meeting can be found at http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/committees/thehighlandcouncil/2010-02-11-hc-ag.htm