 Council tax for Essex County Council will again be kept below inflation for the coming year and limited to a rise of just 1.9%, the same as last year. The figure again represents the lowest ever increase set by Essex County Council in the 20 year history of council tax.
The 1.9% figure equates to an additional 38 pence per week for an average Band D household. It is also one of the lowest figures of any county council in the country.
Lord Hanningfield, Leader of Essex County Council said: "Today's announcement once again delivers the lowest ever increase in council tax and meets the pledge we made to the people of Essex last year to keep any rise below inflation."
Cllr Sarah Candy Cabinet Member for Finance said: "Despite the perilous state of the public finances and ever increasing demands we are determined to deliver value for money for the people of Essex. "We have accelerated our transformation programme, streamlining our back office so that we can put savings back into frontline services."
"All these efforts have enabled us to deliver savings, efficiencies and increased income in the last year of around £85 million and have allowed us to put forward another below inflation level of council tax."
The council tax proposal and budget will be presented for ratification at full council on 9th February. Final council tax bills will include elements from district councils, police and fire authorities and, in certain areas, from parish councils.
The Essex County Council share of the 2009-10 band D council tax was £1,066.50. A 1.9% increase means a 2010-11 band D council tax of £1,086.75.
What Council Tax helps to fund:
Operates 85 public libraries, with an active membership of 365,000 which were visited 8,582,027 times in the last year
Provides direct support to 8 post offices – more to reopen in 2010
Provides care that helps 15,433 older people live at home
Supports 3,994 older people in residential and nursing care
Educates 198,496 children in 556 schools
Helps Essex residents with 4,300 adult learning courses delivered at 250 venues across the county
Maintains 4,719 miles of road and 4,823 miles of footways
Runs a fleet of 65 gritters and 5 winter gritting stations around the county
Maintains 286 miles of cycleways and 7,410 bus stops
Recycles, composts or disposes of 690,000 tonnes of waste every year
Helps deliver arts projects to local communities – providing enjoyment and opportunities to experience the arts for over 380,000 people throughout the county
Runs seven country parks, one visitor farm and a heritage site, that are visited by up to one million people each year.
Tags: Essex County | 
