Conservative’s Freeze Council Tax Again!

Conservative controlled Tamworth Borough Council has frozen council tax for further twelve months.

At tonight’s meeting of Tamworth Borough Council, the 2012/13 budget was voted through, despite the opposition councillors refusing support the proposals.

The Leader of Council, Cllr Danny Cook, opened the debate saying, “This budget will see a freeze in council tax for the coming year with no cuts in front line services in Tamworth.”

Cllr Robert Pritchard, Cabinet portfolio holder for Corporate Services & Assets announced the Borough Council would invest £40,000 on the Olympic Torch celebrations in June and would update the Borough Councils website.

Cllr Steve Claymore, Cabinet portfolio holder for Corporate Services & Assets said, “The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Torch is great news for Tamworth, these will showcase Tamworth both nationally and internationally.  Last Year there were 14,000 visitors to the Staffordshire Hoard, at Tamworth Castle, which brought a £360,000 secondary spend across the town.”

Cllr John Garner, Cabinet portfolio holder for Environment & Waste Management said the Borough Council will continue to support the town’s entrance in Britain in Bloom along with supporting events across the town to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond jubilee.

The new budget also includes free-swimming at Wilnecote sports centre for another twelve months and £15,000 for health projects across the town and £740,000 for Disabled Facility Grants.

Although, there will be no forced job cuts, no cuts in services and no rise in council tax every opposition councillor spoke against the budget but gave made no alternative proposals to counter what was being presented by the controlling group.

The budget for 2012/13 for voted through by a majority of councillors and the budget will be in force from 1 April 2012.