22 November 2007, 07/406
Council assesses budget prospects
West
Lancashire District Council is currently assessing its budget
prospects for next year with the aim of keeping council tax rises
to a minimum.
For the last four years, the council has pegged council tax rises
to the rate of inflation, in line with its track record of prudent
financial management, maintaining first class services and giving
value for money.
The council has already been told that it faces a very low
settlement from government next year - likely below inflation, and
it is now looking at ways of making further efficiency savings in
order to maintain its record of low council tax rises.
Cllr Adrian Owens, Portfolio Holder for Finance, said: "We are an
excellent council with a track record of sound financial management
and we are now assessing our financial position with the aim of
ensuring that any council tax rises next year are kept to a minimum
even though we face rising fuel and pension costs.
"We are aiming to make further efficiency savings by improving the
way we work so that we can maintain the high quality of the
services we provide for local people, while giving value for money
from the council tax."
Councils all over the country face pressures in the coming year.
Details of the government settlement will be announced in December,
and in February the council will meet to make final decisions about
next year's budget before the council tax bills are sent out in
March.
More information about council tax
Council tax pays for the services your local councils provide. In
West Lancashire, the district council collects council tax on
behalf of the district, county, police and fire and rescue. The tax
is then distributed accordingly - approximately 75% to Lancashire
County Council, 9% to the Police Authority and 4% to Lancashire
Fire and Rescue. The remaining 12% goes to West Lancashire District
Council. An additional small amount is collected for those who live
in a parish area.
The average council tax payer in West Lancashire pays just £3.35 a
week to West Lancashire District Council to pay for a huge range of
services including - street cleaning; refuse and recycling; leisure
services; benefits and concessionary travel; planning services and
community safety.
Related information
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