London,
26
October
2009
|
23:00
Europe/London

Record-breaking fifth year of frozen Council Tax

HACKNEY residents look set to benefit from a Council Tax freeze for a record-breaking fifth year in a row. The Council will be the first in the country to achieve this.

Mayor Jules Pipe presented the fifth Council Tax freeze proposals at a Cabinet meeting on 26 October.

He said: “Hackney Council is on the side of residents in difficult times – we are the only authority in the country to be freezing our Council Tax for the fifth year running, while continuing to invest in what matters most to residents and provide better value for money.

“Hackney residents rightly expect their local authority to be efficient, well run, and provide high quality services. I am committed to improving Council services, while at the same time ensuring Hackney residents receive better value for money from their Council Tax.”

Since 2002, Hackney has set the third lowest Council Tax rise of all the 33 London boroughs, meaning that Hackney’s Council Tax is now below the London average.

By running the Council more effectively Hackney has made savings of more than £40 million during the past five years, the highest amount in London according to recent Government figures, and the third highest in the country. This has allowed consistent investment in those services that matter most to residents and a proposed fifth year of frozen Council Tax.

Mayor Pipe is due to present next year’s budget proposals, including the historic fifth freeze on Hackney’s Council Tax, at a meeting of full Council in March, 2010.