Bracknell

Bracknell Forest Borough Council has agreed its council tax increase for this year as 5%.

At a full Bracknell Council meeting last night (Wednesday 1st March) the 5% increase was agreed, seeing the average band D property owner paying £919.44 per year. Last year Bracknell Forest had the lowest council tax of any unitary council in mainland UK and is hoping that this will be the same this year.

A recent survey amongst Bracknell borough residents showed that almost one third would be prepared to see council tax rise more than 5% to keep services at current levels and just under half of residents (47%) said they would be willing to pay up to 5% more in council tax and see some services cut.

There will be continued investment in key areas - reflecting the results of the residents' consultation - despite the difficult financial year ahead. These figures include investment from Bracknell Council's capital funds, including external funding:

These include:

* Highways, footways and cycleways - £1.6 million
* Upgrading and maintaining school buildings - £4.2 million
* Support to vulnerable children and adults - £2.2 million
* Refurbishment of leisure sites - £0.15 million
* Support the regeneration of Bracknell town centre - £0.27 million
* Waste and recycling - £0.8 million
* Updating council owned homes - £5.5 million
* Refurbishment of community centres - £0.05 million

Bracknell Forest has the lowest actual council tax of any unitary authority in mainland England. The level of council tax increase needed to maintain all of its services at current levels would be around 23%, but the Government has given a clear indication that 5% is the maximum average increase that it will allow.

Cllr Paul Bettison, leader of the Council, said: "This has been one of the most difficult budgets for us. It is important to explain that the money to cover two thirds of our Council budget comes from central Government, and only one third from the council tax that we pay.

"This year the Government has increased our funding by less than the level of inflation and this means that as a Council we are being left to fully fund many of the services we offer and try to close a £6 million gap in the budget.

"We have tried very hard to reduce the spending in ways that don't impact on our front-line services and have been consulting residents so that they could let us know what is important to them.

"Whatever may be thrown at us, Bracknell Forest Borough Council is committed to giving the very best value services that can be obtained within our limited means."

Timothy Wheadon, Chief Executive at Bracknell Forest Borough Council, added: "This budget has been a tough one because of the small amount of funding we received from the Government this year.

"It is important that residents understand we have tried to balance this budget so that it does not impact too much on our frontline services.

"We are prudent at Bracknell Forest and offer our residents one of the lowest council tax rates in the country."

Bracknell Forest Borough Council