County council set to freeze tax but cut jobs (From Bromsgrove Advertiser)

County council set to freeze tax but cut jobs

1:50pm Friday 11th January 2013 in News

A COUNCIL tax freeze has been proposed by Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet for the next financial year.

The recommendation to accept the Government’s offer of a council tax freeze grant for 2013/14 was universally accepted at the cabinet meeting earlier this week.

The deal will cost the council £3.3 million based on a 1.9 per cent rise and will now go to a vote at full council on Thursday, February 14.

The freeze will keep the average band D council tax bill at £1,440 a year.

Councillor Adrian Hardman, leader of the county council, said: “This is the start of a formal consultation process and we really want to hear Worcestershire residents’ views on what we propose."

Councillor John Campion, cabinet member for localism and communities, added: “People haven’t seen wages rise or incomes rise so we are taking the steps we can to avoid increasing the pressure on households.”

The 2013/14 budget also identified where savings would need to be made.

200 jobs will be axed at County Hall as well as £4 million being saved by reduced at-home care for the elderly and vulnerable.

About £1.2 million will be cut from activities for young people and £400,000 will be saved by encouraging more people to volunteer to run services such as libraries.

A budget consultation will now take place until Friday, February 1.