Cannock council tax freeze is given go-ahead
Council tax will be frozen in Cannock after bosses gave the go-ahead – as bosses at a neighbouring authority today insisted a 1.99 per cent increase was justified.
A meeting of Cannock Chase District Council this week rubber-stamped a freeze from April while Lichfield District Council has announced it will increase its share of the bill. Councillors in
Cannock say they do not need the extra income from an increase – but Lichfield bosses have blamed a reduction in Government grants for their decision following huge cuts across the country.
By keeping the increase at less than two per cent, Lichfield District Council has avoided a costly referendum asking taxpayers if they would be willing to pay more.
Lichfield leader Councillor Mike Wilcox said: "The increase will see the average local home paying around 25p more a month, or £2.96 extra a year, for the services the district council provides – from leisure centres and parks to planning and recycling.
"We'd prefer not to put council tax up, but we have to be realistic. Over the past few years the government has slashed our funding, and by 2019 the grant we normally get each year to help fund local services will end.
"Because of this we need to look at all ways to bring in extra income and reduce our costs in order to balance our books. Increasing council tax is just one way we can help to protect more of the local services our residents rely on."
Cannock leader George Adamson has admitted the council faces tough years to come.
He said: "The council tax freeze is good news for residents in the district in the short term, yet it will be very difficult for the council to continue to deal with the ongoing reduction in Government funding and 2016/17 will be a very difficult year for not only Cannock, but all other councils.
"However, the previous budgets of this administration have enabled us to freeze council tax in 2014/15 and maintain the level of services we provide.
"We have also been able to set aside sufficient balances and buy time that will enable the council to consider all options to address the shortfall rather than make a kneejerk reaction.
"We hope that the Government will change its mind about the reduction in funding so we can maintain our level of services to residents in the district."
