Good news for residents as council tax frozen

Residents are getting some help with their household bills as Shropshire Council freezes council tax for the next financial year.

Despite the national funding squeeze and millions of pounds having to be saved by the council, Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow said it was important to help people as much as possible during the economic downturn. The council’s share of the household council tax bill will be frozen next year, and any future increases will be below the rate of inflation. The police and fire authority have also frozen their tax rates this year, but local parish and town councils set their own council tax rate, so the total payable will differ from area to area.

Councillor Keith Barrow said:

“We are all having to tighten our belts at the moment, and we hope that by freezing council tax we are doing our bit to help householders. Council tax takes up a greater percentage of the income of those on lower wages and fixed incomes, so keeping levels frozen helps the people who need it the most.

“Councils are changing, and services will be delivered differently in the future, so I think it’s essential we do what we can to give people a choice about how they spend their money. By keeping council tax low, I think we are doing that.”

The proposed amounts payable for Shropshire Council for the next financial year are as follows:

2011/12      2011/12
Band D    Annual
Increase
£  %
Former Bridgnorth DC | 1,164.72 |0.00
Former North Shropshire DC | 1,164.72 |0.00
Former Oswestry BC | 1,216.58 |0.00
Former Shrewsbury & Atcham BC | 1,164.72      0.00
Former South Shropshire DC | 1,216.62     0.00

Councillors will consider the proposals at a meeting of the full council on
Thursday 24 February.