Council Tax rise for Hertfordshire feared (From Watford Observer)

Council Tax rise for Hertfordshire feared

1:16pm Sunday 20th December 2009

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Council bosses have warned of rises in Council Tax after Government grant figures were announced this week.

Hertfordshire County Council is set to receive an increase of £2.6 million - a 1.5 per cent rise - for the next financial year - once again the lowest rise of any county council in the country.

It comes despite extra pressures on public services, expected to cost the county council about £30 million between 2010/11.

The relevant cabinet member David Lloyd said: “This settlement came as no surprise.

"Hertfordshire has again been short-changed compared to other councils. As always, we will find ways of delivering our services with greater efficiency but there is a limit to how much can be saved in this way.

"With our services partly paid for from the Government grant and partly from Council Tax, this settlement is bound to put pressure on our services and on Council Tax."

"This year, the council has introduced an integrated planning process to ensure that budgets are aligned more clearly to key priorities and will deliver maximum value for money.

"The aim is to make cashable efficiency savings - where the council provides the same service for less money or a better service for the same money - of around £30 million."

The average increase in grants for county councils with fire responsibilities is 3.63 per cent, with Lincolnshire having the highest at 5.47 per cent.

If the county council received the average level of grant increase, this would provide an additional £3.7 million to help balance the books.

Mr Lloyd added: "I will continue to fight for a fairer share of the pot to meet our needs. Whether that is forthcoming or not, residents can rest assured that our prudent financial management will mean that Hertfordshire is not going to be forced into damaging service reductions next year."

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