A first council tax rise in three years has been agreed by Aylesbury Vale District Council – generating additional funding to the authority that will go towards maintaining services.
It means that residents will pay an extra two per cent for the district council’s share of the overall bill in 2013/14, an increase of £2.62 per year for a Band D property.
Those householders will pay an extra 5p a week to maintain services from recycling and waste collection to environmental health and maintenance of parks and open spaces.
AVDC takes only 10p in every pound of the total council tax collected with the rest of the money going to Buckinghamshire County Council, Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service along with town and parish councils.
Councillor Neil Blake, Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “The council is committed to protecting the highly valued front line services we provide to our residents, and this increase will ensure that we are able to continue these services without making any cuts to the level of service. For example, maintaining the collection of food waste on a weekly basis.”
The decision to increase council tax comes in the wake of significant reductions in AVDC’s grant funding from central government. By 2014/15, the council’s government grant will be cut by 48 per cent (£5.7 million) the amount it received in 2010. This means that where it used to have £310 to provide services to each home, for this year it will be £240 and by 2014, even less - £219.
Along with many other district authorities, the council is planning not to take advantage of the government’s council tax freeze grant which is being offered as a two year package.
Councillor Blake said: “We could not accept the freeze grant without affecting the future viability of the council’s budget. The government has cut our funding settlement by £1.3 million next year and then offered us £82,000 back to hold council tax at the same level. Accepting the freeze grant would mean the council would have to make greater budget cuts for both the forthcoming financial year and 2014/15. Although I recognise the impact on council taxpayers of even the smallest increase to bills we have to think about the long term.”
AVDC is looking for new and more efficient ways to deliver services to save money. Senior management restructuring, the new waste and recycling collection service, the new combined street cleansing and horticultural contract, encouraging more self-service via the website, are all examples of measures taken to help meet the funding shortfall.
The council is also exploring new ways to boost income. Hiring out its conference facilities at its Gateway offices and the new garden waste service are examples of a new approach to service delivery.