Choose your own council tax increase

20/12/2007

Residents in flood-stricken Gloucestershire will be able to choose how much council tax they pay next year under a scheme set to be approved on December 18th. The referendum on council tax comes as the county faces tough calls on its budget following the summer floods - with costs spiralling to around £35 million.

A Cabinet report published today recommended councillors agree to consult residents on three possible council tax options:
- Option one is for base budget of £333.5 million and a council tax increase of 3.8%. This option contains no extra money to deal with flood prevention or drainage works.
- The second choice is for a budget of £335.8 million and a council tax increase of 3.8% plus an additional 1.1% to create a "fighting fund" of £2.3 million to investigate and begin to tackle flood prevention and drainage works.
- A third alternative is for a budget of £340.2 million and a council tax increase of 6.9% which would increase the "fighting fund" to £4.5 million and provide for capital investment of £25 million to fund major investment in flood prevention and drainage works.

Councillor Julie Girling, lead Cabinet member for environment and flood recovery, said: "We want local people to understand the problems we face following the flooding crisis in June and July, which cost the county council up to £35 million. Feedback from residents tells us that the fear of floods is greater than ever and they want real investment into flood prevention - and this includes a programme of drain clearance.

"As the county council for Gloucestershire, we are working hard to get more money from the government to help us recover and protect ourselves for the future. Next week we will get some of the money back for what we spent during the emergency, but the Audit Commission agrees that councils need even more support from the Government in emergencies.

"With no money available for protection, we now have to ask council taxpayers to help fund additional investment in flood prevention."

The consultation ends on January 16th, and the budget will be finalised at Cabinet on February 8th and approved at Council on February 20th.

So readers, would YOU like more say in what your Council Tax is spent on - and how high it is set? Let us have your views! email: editorial@maturetimes.co.uk