Lichfield and Burntwood residents have been told “careful planning” has allowed councillors to approve a zero per cent rise in council tax.
A meeting of Staffordshire County Council has given the green light to the proposals today (February 11) – despite increased pressures on funding for local authorities.
However, the council’s leader Philip Atkins reassured residents that the authority could afford to make the move. He explained:
“Careful planning has allowed the county council to restructure itself around the key priorities of encouraging economic growth and prosperity, while supporting our most vulnerable citizens.
“Services are in safe hands. The county council is concentrating on delivering better outcomes for residents, not making crude cuts to balance the books.”
Plans for a zero per cent rise were first proposed by Cabinet in November. The authority’s share accounts for 70 per cent of the Council Tax bill for Staffordshire residents and contribute towards a huge range of services including education, care for vulnerable adults and children, highways, libraries, economic regeneration and areas of public health.
