Warwick District Council tax set for another freeze

This is despite a cut in Government funding for councils which freeze the council tax.

Cllr Andrew Mobbs, (Con, Park Hill) who is responsible for policy on finance, said: “We have a surplus this year and are projecting a surplus for next year which will enable us to apply a zero per cent council tax increase for 2013-2014 due to our excellent performance in previous years.

“We have made no cuts to services and there are no planned cuts to services.”

Cllr Mobbs said the council had made around £5 million savings to its budget since the Conservatives took over in 2007, running up a surplus every year.

“It’s without cutting services paid through better ways of working, efficiencies and natural wastage.

“We’ve imposed lean-systems thinking which means we look at how every process works and how we can make that more efficient.

“We run Warwick District Council like a business and we impose the same disciplines that a private business does and that’s paying dividend.

“We pay credit to all the employees of the council in helping us achieve this.”

He said every year the council plans it finances with a five-year forecast, which includes falling costs and more revenue.

More revenue includes the renegotiating of major contracts, an increase in planning fees and making more money from its property, particularly its smaller assets.

Cllr Mobbs said: “We’ve got quite a big property portfolio and it’s making sure that we make the most of these assets which can mean taking any action which makes them more commercially viable.”

The budget and final decision on council tax will be made in February, which will take into account the Government’s final decision on funding, due to be made shortly. Council tax for a Band D property in Warwick District this year is £146.86.