'No council tax increase' proposed by Brentwood Borough Council
The council said it had made the decision due to the "challenges" being faced by people in Brentwood, Essex, due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Picture above: Credit Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Brentwood Borough Council has announced that it plans not to increase council tax due to the “challenges” people are facing under the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.
The council has made the proposal to not increase council tax for the next tax year in its forthcoming budget.
Leader of the council, Councillor Chris Hossack, said: “Government policy permits councils to increase council tax by two-percent, or £5 a year, but we have taken the view that we should keep the financial burden on residents to a minimum, especially at this time.
“A combination of shrewd investing, maximising assets, reducing costs and streamlining services means that the council can deliver a zero-percent council tax increase this year.
“The proposed budget was presented to the policy, resources and economic development committee on Wednesday, February 3, and will go forward for approval on February 24, to Ordinary Council.
“The budget makes the appropriate provision to continue to invest in IT and equipment to enable staff to work effectively and efficiently from their homes during the continued lockdown period.
“There will be further investment in environmental initiatives, our communities, housing development and services to residents.”
The council has also said that the cost of the Covid-19 crisis in terms of actual cost and lost income has been put at £3.4 million, but added that government grants have helped to “alleviate” some of the effect.
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