West Lindsey: Council Tax will not be increased for 2015/16

West Lindsey District Council has announced it will again not increase its share of the Council Tax for 2015/16.
The new Guildhall at Marshalls Yard.The new Guildhall at Marshalls Yard.
The new Guildhall at Marshalls Yard.

The freeze was announced in the council’s budget report, submitted to council on Monday 2nd March, which also included plans for more than £9m of capital investment towards major projects.

The capital programme is subject to a range of factors and subsequent business case and detailed approvals.

Leader of the council, Coun Jeff Summers said: “We are well aware of the levels of tax people pay, our philosophy is to allow residents to spend their own earnings whilst we attempt to make up any shortfalls of savings required using our own resources.”

The decision means that from April, residents will continue to pay the 2013/14 rate, meaning council tax has been frozen in four out of five years.

Coun Summers added: “The council’s entrepreneurial approach will be used to counter the reductions in Government funding.”

“By utilizing our capital fund in conjunction with our asset portfolio we will invest to generate both capital and revenue receipts.”

The council has managed to achieve £1.5m of savings at a time when the budget allocation from central government is drastically reducing each year.

However, the council is not complacent as it still needs to find £2.5m over the next four years to achieve a sustainable budget position which is non reliant on Government grant.

Coun Summers said: “This budget is about investing in our corporate priorities. It is about developing commercial and transformational approaches to deliver the required level of savings alongside a regeneration strategy.”