THURROCK Council is being recommended no increase its council tax bill to residents this year.
But even if this is agreed at next week’s full council meeting, people in the borough will see a small rise in their overall bills as Essex Police agreed a 3.47 per cent increase in their part earlier this month.
Local councils, like Thurrock, have to include what are known as precepts from the police and the Essex Fire and Rescue Service. The councils collect the money and pass it on to the service.
The fire service did not increase its precept this year.
Following Wednesday (22 February) evening’s meeting of Thurrock’s cabinet, Leader of the Council Cllr John Kent, said: “At a time when we are all facing up to making difficult financial choices we do not feel it right to add to people’s burdens.
“Thurrock has done incredibly well to reduce its spending and minimise the impact on front-line services over the past couple of years, and that trend has to continue.
“Much of the savings proposed in this budget refer to ‘transformation’, providing much the same services, but doing it differently and more efficiently.
“Some of these ‘transformation’ schemes have already provided remarkable savings for the council, but much more is needed.
“I am determined, once again, to say this council will do its utmost to ensure the effect of the economic downturn is minimised on the most vulnerable members of our society, the people who rely on our services for a decent standard of living.
“However, I have to add a warning. The council expects more deep cuts in it’s funding from central government next year and the year after that. Inevitably the time will come when council tax will have to rise.”
