Guardian News
Council set to freeze council tax for second year running
1:02pm Friday 3rd February 2012
WINSFORD residents can expect to see their council tax frozen for the second year running.
Cheshire West and Chester Council finance chiefs are to recommend capping council tax at Wednesday’s executive meeting, meaning people living in band D property will pay £1,254.59.
And households in Winsford could see a small reduction of £4.71 on their yearly bill with the elimination of ‘double taxation’.
As it stands, Winsford Town Council pays for services such as Christmas lights and the part-funding of PCSOs through its own precept.
However, not all parish or town councils, including unparished area, cover these costs, which are instead paid for by CWAC – meaning Winsford households pay out twice.
If the recommendations are approved Winsford residents will only pay once for these services and towns, such as Northwich, will be charged a “special expense” to cover the costs.
Julie Gills, director of resources for CWAC, said: “In terms of financial management, the budget builds on the considerable success of the first three years of the new council.
“During this period the council has delivered savings of around £82m reinvesting £34m in front line services and reducing costs for council taxpayers by £48m.”
The council says its estimated gross revenue expenditure for 2012-13 is around £728m, with children’s service topping the budget at £289.6m.
The authority estimates a £2m funding gap for the next 12 months with that jumping to between £10 - £15m in 2014.
Clr Les Ford, executive member for resources, said: “It has been a considerable achievement to get us to the stage where we are able to produce a deliverable budget given the uncertainty surrounding local government funding over the past couple of years.
“We will be working equally as hard to develop proposals to bridge the funding gaps facing the authority in the next two years.”
The council has allocated £71m for its capital projects as well as £112m for its capital vision schemes over the next three years.
This includes investments in the Winsford E-ACT Academy and highways maintenance, Chester Theatre and new lifestyle centres for Northwich and Ellesmere Port.