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East Dorset council tax to rise for first time in three years (From Bournemouth Echo)
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East Dorset council tax to rise for first time in three years
11:10am Thursday 7th February 2013 in News
COUNCILLORS at East Dorset District Council look set to raise council tax for the first time in three years.
The rise, which would amount to a seven pence per week increase for a Band D property, will be considered at the meeting of the council’s resources committee on February 13.
Over the past two years, the Government’s formula grant to the council has been cut by 28 per cent.
A further cut in the grant of 11 per cent, which will equal £265,000, will be seen by the council in the coming financial year, with yet more cuts planned for the foreseeable future.
Chairman of the resources committee, Councillor Alex Clarke, said: “The joint service strategy with Christchurch Borough Council has generated significant savings of over £700,000 per year to date, with a further £300,000 targeted.
“This will enable the council to contain its council tax increase to 7p per week, whilst still protecting frontline services.”
He said the recommendation to the committee is for a small rise to avoid “real problems” in the next few years, which will mean no reduction in services.
If the recommendation is agreed, the decision will go to full council for ratification on February 25.
Councils looking to raise their council tax by more than 2% need to put it to a referendum. But many councils have opted for 1.95% rises, prompting accusations from minster Eric Pickles that they are "dodging democracy."
Poole has opted for a 1.95% rise, as has Christchurch. Bournemouth and Dorset are freeing their bills.
Comments(8)
sollie
says...
12:01pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Bournesouthmouth Downpokes
says...
12:08pm Thu 7 Feb 13
rayc
says...
12:25pm Thu 7 Feb 13
Mr Pickles was correct then in saying that there was plenty of scope for savings in local government.
Hessenford
says...
12:26pm Thu 7 Feb 13
.
Am I supposed to be grateful for that, some people haven't had a pay rise for four years so this would be a pay cut.
East Dorset need to join the real world where the only way to affordability is to make savings, not by cutting services but by cutting jobsworths and their perks which council are renowned for.
JDH
says...
1:09pm Thu 7 Feb 13
skydriver
says...
3:52pm Thu 7 Feb 13
JDH wrote:Another well written article on the councillors in the area, it's a great pity the same councillors don't read the comments on these pages, and act accordingly , this article has the perfect point ,councillors take a cut in your allowance before making the rest of us pay for you to have a bit of power.
go back 30 or so years and local councils like EDC would be run by a chief clerk who had been there years knew exactly what had to be done and when. Wasn't on a six figure salery. Ok the system wasn't perfect but most things sort of worked, Now there are managers and chief execitives coming out of our ears on money far in excess of the average local wage, and are services any better?. My wages are not going up I have to live within my means, perhaps all the staff over a certain wage level should take a pay cut to help balence the books. If the councillors themselves took a cut in allowences would be another saving, most are only on it for there own personal glory ego trip.
There are many articles written in all the press these days a great pity councillors don't take any notice.
Doubtless it will not be too long before they seek a rise in allowances let alone a reduction.
dorsetred
says...
3:34pm Fri 8 Feb 13
They are only in it for themselves and yes they are all the same.
Do not forget at any election DISQUALIFY the paper this has to be recorded and reported, the only way we will ever get rid of the rubbish, you would not have one of them on your mind let alone on your side.Congratulations are in order to chief const debbie simpson for securing a £10,000 rise for a job she has never done before but her good old mate martyn assures us that the increase was paramount to ensure the quality of applicants, can he assure me that good old debbie would NOT have applied without the increase, therefore implying she was totally motivated by MONEY,tut tut.
MandinVerwood says...
11:51am Thu 7 Feb 13
I wouldn't mind so much, but I don't see where I'm getting better value for money. The recent shift to the new bins structure has seen me much worse off. The verge and parks cutting was outsourced last year and done much less regularly and I've seen nothing else as a benefit.
Cut our services but still pay more!