Tax up by just eight pence a week

TAXPAYERS will pay just eight pence a week more for services in Suffolk Coastal this year.

Richard Cornwell

TAXPAYERS will pay just eight pence a week more for services in Suffolk Coastal this year.

Councillors have agreed a budget of �15.68 million - a 2.9 per cent rise in spending.

For average Band D households it will mean a council tax of �149.40 for the district's services in addition to the bills from the county council, town and parish councils, and police.

“This budget will help us deliver what we know our residents want and expect from this council - better services and even better value,” said council leader Ray Herring.

“We have been reviewing every part of our work to see where we can make it more efficient and relevant to what is needed by our communities.

“It has been tough year as we have had to set sound financial foundations in order to tackle a budget gap between our current spending levels and service costs of �3.5 million over the next three years.

“We have been, and we will have to continue, reviewing all of our services to wring out every last possible efficiency from them but this is being done in a carefully planned way to minimise and control the impact. Where we have had to increase our charges, we have done so as fairly as possible.

“Until we finally have a government that is ready to give a fairer share of the national funding pot to rural councils like this one, it will continue to be a battle to balance our books while meeting the demands of our communities. However, we are committed to winning that battle.”

The council's total budget has risen by �457,000 since last year, despite savings and additional income of �1.85 million.

While it is investing �402,000 in improved services, inflation will cost a further �464,000 and fixed costs will increase by �884,000.