Conservative Controlled Council’s Cabinet Vote for Tax Freeze

Residents are set to have their council tax bills frozen again in April after a vote by Conservative controlled Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet today (Wednesday 5th February).

The recommendation to freeze council tax will now go to a meeting of full council next Thursday, 13th February.  If approved, the county council’s share of council tax bills will be unchanged for the fourth year running.

Cabinet this morning discussed budget plans that will see the county council  make £19.3m of savings in 2014-15, while continuing investing in Staffordshire’s economy and working ever closer with partners to improve people’s quality of life.

Cllr Ian Parry, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Transformation on Staffordshire County Council, said, “This important decision once again protects the finances and living standards of Staffordshire residents.  The national and local economy has turned a corner but it is not right for us to ask people to pay any more at a time when the recovery remains fragile.

“Instead we need to continue being really clear what local people’s priorities are, from creating more quality jobs, to improving health.  We have less money to spend so it is vital that we find new, better ways of working, and encourage greater responsibility and independence where we so that people are less reliant on our services.

“The recommendation to freeze bills will not go to members for approval at next week’s full council meeting.”

The new strategic plan and medium term financial strategy – which sets out the local authority’s vision for the county, alongside draft investment and savings plans for the next five years –  will go to a meeting of the full council for final approval on Thursday 13th February.