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Herefordshire Council is dismayed and disappointed that Central Government has put Politics before prudence and decided to insist on the Council re-billing its households.
Government’s decision to cap – or limit – the authority’s Council Tax increase means Herefordshire’s residents will have to be sent new Council Tax bills – at a cost of £100,000 – as the authority has to shave £253,000 off its £175.5 million annual spend.
The saving amounts to just over 0.1% of the Council’s annual budget – or around £3.80 a year off a Band D Council Tax bill. The cost of rebilling stands at £1.25 for a Band D property – meaning residents will save around £2.55 a year.
“This is a nonsense and we’re bitterly disappointed, following what we felt was a very constructive meeting with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister when we explained these simple economics, that Government has taken this decision which will require rebilling,” said Cllr Roger Phillips, Leader of the Council.
The authority argued that it would be better to simply take the £253,000 off next year’s Council Tax bill, which would avoid the extra cost of rebilling.
“I doubt that Herefordshire Council Tax payers will see the sense of this decision, even if it means a reduction of a couple of pounds in this year’s Council Tax bill,” added Cllr Phillips.
“We’re a low tax, low spending, yet good performing authority and it is bitterly disappointing that these facts have been ignored in the name of Politics,” he added.
“While the £253,000 savings amount to a little over 0.1% of the Council’s annual spend, this is a significant sum of money and to make cuts of this order will have an impact on services.
“Difficult decisions will now have to be made.”
It is anticipated that new bills will be sent out as soon as possible – this is likely to take a number of weeks.
In the meantime, Council Tax payers should continue to pay their Council tax as normal – changes will be highlighted when new bills are sent out.
Herefordshire Council is now looking to share the cost of re-billing with Herefordshire and Worcestershire combined Fire Authority which has also been capped. This would reduce the re-billing cost to the Council to £46,000.
DISMAY AT GOVERNMENT RE-BILLING DECISION
Herefordshire Council is dismayed and disappointed that Central Government has put Politics before prudence and decided to insist on the Council re-billing its households.
Government’s decision to cap – or limit – the authority’s Council Tax increase means Herefordshire’s residents will have to be sent new Council Tax bills – at a cost of £100,000 – as the authority has to shave £253,000 off its £175.5 million annual spend.
The saving amounts to just over 0.1% of the Council’s annual budget – or around £3.80 a year off a Band D Council Tax bill. The cost of rebilling stands at £1.25 for a Band D property – meaning residents will save around £2.55 a year.
“This is a nonsense and we’re bitterly disappointed, following what we felt was a very constructive meeting with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister when we explained these simple economics, that Government has taken this decision which will require rebilling,” said Cllr Roger Phillips, Leader of the Council.
The authority argued that it would be better to simply take the £253,000 off next year’s Council Tax bill, which would avoid the extra cost of rebilling.
“I doubt that Herefordshire Council Tax payers will see the sense of this decision, even if it means a reduction of a couple of pounds in this year’s Council Tax bill,” added Cllr Phillips.
“We’re a low tax, low spending, yet good performing authority and it is bitterly disappointing that these facts have been ignored in the name of Politics,” he added.
“While the £253,000 savings amount to a little over 0.1% of the Council’s annual spend, this is a significant sum of money and to make cuts of this order will have an impact on services.
“Difficult decisions will now have to be made.”
It is anticipated that new bills will be sent out as soon as possible – this is likely to take a number of weeks.
In the meantime, Council Tax payers should continue to pay their Council tax as normal – changes will be highlighted when new bills are sent out.
Herefordshire Council is now looking to share the cost of re-billing with Herefordshire and Worcestershire combined Fire Authority which has also been capped. This would reduce the re-billing cost to the Council to £46,000.