Council tax frozen (From Borehamwood Times)

Hertsmere Borough Council freezes council tax

5:07pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in News

Hertsmere Borough Council has rubber stamped plans to freeze council tax freeze for the fourth year running.

During a council meeting last night, councillors unanimously voted to freeze council tax, meaning the council’s share will remain at £157 for the average band D house.

The cash will be used to pay for services such as waste and recycling, planning, housing, parks and open spaces, as well as street cleaning and environmental health.

But a few weeks ago, councillors voted to pass a £827,000 funding cut in the amount paid in council tax benefit, leaving those who are not protected paying between £3 and £5 a week more.

The amount that can be claimed by those in Band D will be capped, so those who may have been eligible for benefit support might not be protected when the reforms come in.

Leader of the opposition Labour group, Councillor Ann Harrison, said she did not think that people having their council tax benefit cut were going to feel they are having their tax frozen.

Residents who have received council tax benefits in the past who are not covered under these reforms will be notified by post from April 1 when the changes are set to take place.

Across Hertsmere it is suspected that about 2,000 people will be expected to pay up to £5 extra a week.

Councillor John Graham, portfolio holder for finance, said: “We understand the difficult financial situation many of our residents are experience, so we have decided to keep council tax at the same level as 2009.”