For a third year running, Hertfordshire County Council has frozen council tax while committing to further investment in services that are essential to supporting Hertfordshire’s residents and economy.
The council’s integrated plan for 2012/13 to 2014/15, which includes next year’s budget and council tax figure, was approved by full council on Tuesday 21 February 2012. Residents will not be asked to pay a single penny more this year for the vast range of services provided by your local county council, which range from schools and social care to Fire & Rescue and maintenance of the county’s 3,000 miles of roads. Band D properties will continue to pay £1,118.83 a year for the county council’s portion of the bill.
Leader of the Council Robert Gordon said: “Despite the difficult economic situation and increasing demands on our services, through efficient planning we have been able to freeze council tax in Hertfordshire for a third year in a row.
“We have listened to what residents have said about our services and their needs. Demand for school places is increasing, as is demand for modern facilities for our older population. Local businesses need support to continue playing a vital role in our economy. And road maintenance remains a priority for most of our residents. We have committed to addressing all of these issues in our budget so that we continue to meet the needs of taxpayers while making the savings needed to balance the books.”
David Lloyd, Cabinet Member for Resources and Economic Wellbeing, explained: “In the budget for 2012/13 we have committed to further school expansions to meet the demands of our growing population, over £70 million for road maintenance and over £20 million towards a £40 million continuing improvement programme to bring our care homes up to the latest standards.
“We also want to do all we can to support the recovery of Hertfordshire’s economy. As well as investing in our transport infrastructure, we plan to invest in extending high speed broadband to areas of the county with poor coverage. Good broadband access enables businesses to develop innovative and low cost ways to deliver their services, as well as allow residents to do more online.
“Very importantly for the long-term economic stability of this county, we have committed to reducing the council’s debts at a faster rate. The more we can pay back now, the more secure our financial position we will be in the future.”
A short webcast explaining how your council tax is spent around the county can be viewed on: http://youtu.be/RERh1-n0QVU
The papers from the full council meeting are available on: http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-council/civic_calendar/ccouncil/16950409/
The final version of the approved integrated plan will be available from Wednesday 22 February on: http://www.hertsdirect.org/your-council/cpdrp/budbook/intplan1213-1415/
