Council Tax freeze for sixth year in a row

Link to committee report

At a special meeting today (Thursday) The Highland Council has agreed to freeze the Council Tax for a sixth successive year and confirmed a budget of £548.436 million for 2013-14.

The Council Tax bands will remain: Band A: £775.33; Band B: £904.56;  Band C: £1,033.78; Band D: £1,163.00; Band E: £1,421.44; Band F: £1,679.89; Band G: £1,938.33; Band H: £2,326.00.

Savings of £11.612 million have been agreed in the coming financial year, a further £12.157 million agreed for 2014/15, leaving £3.3 million to be found for 2014/15 when the proposed budget is £547.625 million.

The Council also agreed to contain the average weekly rent increase to £1.35 or 2%, the average rent rising from £67.60 to £68.95. A 2% increase is also to be applied to hostel rents, gypsy/traveller site pitches, garage and garage sites as well as caretaking and CCTV services.

Highlights of the budget are: -

The Council has already set aside £1 million from balances in 2012/13 for the Community Challenge Fund launched in January 2013.

The Council agreed to remove the existing 10% Council Tax reduction of long-term empty domestic properties and instead levy a full 100% Council tax charge with effect from 1 April 2013.  This situation will be reviewed within the first year.  Any additional income will be retained locally with decisions on use to be considered by the Council.