Southend announces 3.95% tax bill rise (From Echo)

Southend announces 3.95% tax bill rise

12:20pm Friday 15th January 2010 in News

LEADING councillors have approved a council tax rise of 3.95 per cent for Southend householders.

Southend Council’s Tory cabinet approved the budget for the 2010/11 financial year, which included the council tax rise equivalent to an extra £43 a year for a band D property.

The council is trying to save £5.8million by cutting jobs at the council and running the authority in a more cost-effective way.

A net loss of 38 posts out of the 2,200 staff working for Southend is planned, but this would be through staff leaving and retiring, and not compulsory redundancies.

Car parking charges will be frozen to help beleaguered traders, while the council is planning to increase cash for social services, sea defences, day-to-day road repairs and grants for voluntary groups.

Tory leader Nigel Holdcroft said: “Whatever colour of Government we face later this year, local government will face difficult and financially tight years.

“What we have here is a financially sound budget to take us through this.”

But opposition leaders from the Lib Dem, Independent and Labour groups criticised the budget for its above-inflation council tax rise.