Council Confirms Council Tax Freeze and Growth in Key Services

A freeze in the Council Tax and a growth in spending to accommodate priority front line services has been confirmed by The Highland Council. The Independent/Liberal Democrat and Labour Administration were successful with their recommendation to keep the tax at 2008/9 levels  and deliver a revenue budget for 2009/10 of £598  million, an extra £23 million (or 4.3% increase) over the current financial year. The Band D will be £1,163.

Councillor David Alston, Budget Leader and Chairman of the Budget Information Group, said the budget was a particularly tough one, given a tight settlement from the Scottish Government which was based on a freeze on the Council Tax.  A budget gap of £13 million had to be bridged.

He said: “We have made a number of efficiencies but we must be honest with the public and say we have had to make cuts.  We have striven to find the least worst options. No one is going to hide from that. There is growth where it matters and we will maintain frontline services so we can help and support the people of the Highlands through the recession.”

The Council Tax for 2008/9 will remain as follows: -

Budget allocations are: 

Earlier the Council agreed to peg the average council house rent increase to £2.46 per week.  The average rent will be £63.93 per week, paid over 48 weeks.