Average Council Tax Rise only 79p per week

12.00.00pm GMT Sun 22nd Feb 2009

Following the close of the public consultation on the Council's budget, the Council's Liberal Democrat administration has announced its final budget proposals. It is proposing a council tax increase of 3.9%, which includes 0.5% specifically ring-fenced for public transport improvements. It will also be investing £1 million in service priorities that all had the strong support of the public.

Council Leader, Isobel McCall, said: "Thank you to everyone who responded to the consultation on our budget proposals. We place great importance on what the public tell us. The results show that residents support the priorities for additional investment, including the additional 0.5% council tax increase specifically for funding bus services, but that they were concerned about the overall tax increase. To reflect their views we have reduced our overall increase to 3.9%, but ring fenced 0.5% within that for improved bus services".

For the average household the increase is 79 pence per week which is less than the national average increase, currently predicted to be over 90 pence per week. Milton Keynes' level of council tax is likely still to be around £60 per year lower than the national average.

Councillor Sam Crooks, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for finance added: "We are already experiencing increased demand for some of our services as a result of the recession. We have made the protection of front-line services for the public a priority and have identified millions of pounds of efficiency savings in order to make the books balance without cutting services. This year there are no service cuts in our budget and we will again exceed Government efficiency targets."

The Liberal Democrat budget proposals include £1 million to be invested in the Council's priorities. The priorities were agreed after public consultation in the Autumn. These new priorities include public transport, children's education and adults' skills, road and pavement repairs, neighbourhood regeneration and activities for young people. The recent budget consultation asked whether residents supported a number of individual projects to deliver the priorities.

Isobel McCall said: "The public supported all of the priority schemes, with the highest support, over 90%, being for fixing potholes and carrying out minor road and pavement repairs more quickly. That is why we are investing almost £300,000 of the £1 million fund in additional road and pavement repairs."