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News

Lowest Council Tax Rise in 10 Years

Poole’s Cabinet is recommending a Council Tax rise of 3.4% for 2007/08 – the lowest percentage increase for ten years.

At a meeting last night, the Cabinet also revealed there would be no cutbacks in basic services. The matter will now be discussed and voted upon at a meeting of the Full Council on February 15.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Brian Leverett said the budget had been achieved through sound financial management and identifying efficiencies across Council services. However, he warned the Council could not guarantee continued modest Council Tax increases in future years unless the Government delivered a fairer funding settlement to Poole.  

Cllr Leverett said: “Since 2004, we have delivered, year on year, a lower increase in Council Tax and brought stability to Poole’s budget. This has been achieved by careful financial monitoring and greatly improved efficiency within the Council.

“Based on current projections we can say, with confidence, that we will be able to set Council Tax for the next two or three years within Government guidelines and without any major cut in basic services. However, in the long-term, further relatively low rises in Council Tax will be dependent upon the Government delivering a Fair Deal for Poole.”

As part of the annual Council Tax setting process, the Council has to agree a budget each year. A wide range of decisions are taken on the income and expenditure of the Council which determines how much each Council Tax payer will have to pay.

Borough of Poole has launched a major campaign, called “Fair Deal for Poole”, to demand a fairer funding settlement from the Government. Poole’s Councillors say the Borough has endured years of under-funding from the Government.

The Council is the fourth-lowest funded Unitary Authority in the country and has received the minimum increase in Government grant funding. Residents are being asked to sign a petition in support of the “Fair Deal” campaign which will be delivered to Westminster.

Cllr Leverett added: “I know there is a great deal of public support for our ‘Fair Deal’ campaign. Residents know we are a poorly-funded Council and I would urge everyone to sign the petition to support local services in Poole.” 

Ian Turner, Media Relations Officer, Borough of Poole, Tel: 01202 633295