Council Tax Freeze Recommended

Following on from yesterday’s news that Surrey County Council had voted for a 1.99% rise in council tax, some even better news from Crawley Borough Council.

Cabinet proposed to freeze their share of the tax again this year at their meeting on Wednesday Evening.

Council leader Howard Bloom said that the freeze was made possible by £8.8 million worth of savings and efficiency increases in the last 6 years

The budget would protect frontline services and allow continuing investment in the town, despite a cut of more than 12 percent in government funding and business rates.

A Council Tax freeze would mean that the Crawley Borough Council element of residents’ bill would again be £187.83 for a band D property. Council Tax bills are made up of three elements – Crawley Borough Council, West Sussex County Council and the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner.

A final decision on the 2014/15 budget, which includes the Council Tax, will be taken at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday 26 February.

For more details on Council Tax bandings and ways to pay, visit www.crawley.gov.uk/counciltax