Council tax cut approved in Uttlesford

James Walker Friday, March 1, 2013
12:18 PM

A ONE per cent council tax cut was formally approved by Uttlesford District Council at a meeting last (Thursday 28).

Reducing the council tax by one per cent will mean Band D residents pay £145.95p-a-year.

The meeting was held to discuss to proposals for the 2013/14 budget, which will include £716,000 of extra funding for services which will bring direct benefits to the community.

The Council’s total revenue budget for 2013/14 is £32.1 million and £4.6 million will be funded from Council Tax. Prudent financial management has put the Council in a far healthier position than many local authorities.

Uttlesford has the lowest council tax in Essex and is among the lowest in the country.

The budget includes:

• £150,000 of extra funding to support the vital work being carried out by the local voluntary organisations

• a £70,000 boost to economic development initiatives including an increase in discretionary business rate relief to help business start-ups

• £40,000 of extra resources for planning enforcement

• a further £31,000 towards bringing empty homes back into habitable use

• £28,000 in extra funding to tackle the district’s homelessness issues and

• £23,000 more for street cleaning

Full details of the budget proposals can be viewed here www.uttlesford.gov.uk.