AVDC freezes council tax again

Council tax to be frozen for second year running

Aylesbury Vale District Council has voted to freeze council tax for the second year running. The freeze has been made possible by a one-off grant from the government, which is being offered to all local authorities that do not increase their council tax in 2012/13.
It will mean the district council element of residents’ total council tax bill will remain at £131.07 for an average Band D property – which is the equivalent of just £2.52 a week. This helps pay for a wide range of services including housing support, planning, refuse and recycling services and street cleaning.
In developing a budget for the 2012/13 financial year, the council has had to find £2.6 million in savings from its £18 million revenue budget due to reduced government funding and pressures such as the increased cost of utilities (fuel and electricity). This saving is needed on top of the £1.2 million savings delivered to balance the 2011/12 budget. In 2013/14, the council will need to save at least another £1 million to balance the books.
An array of saving solutions have been approved by councillors to allow the council to have a balanced budget position for the next financial year.