Rother District Council

A freeze on Council Tax has been recommended for residents in Rother.

Cabinet members of Rother District Council today (Monday) said there should be no increase in Council Tax charges this year.

The authority has been debating whether to accept a Government grant to hold Council Tax at the same level or instead increase rates by 3.5 per cent to offset Government cuts and protect services.

They recently asked residents for their opinion on the matter, with a majority of respondents indicating a preference for the freeze.

This opinion was shared by cabinet, which agreed that no increase was the preferred solution.

The recommendation will now have to be approved at a meeting of full council.

Rother District Council leader Cllr Carl Maynard said: "This was a decision that required much debate and consideration and I thank members for their honest input and the public for making their opinions known.

"I do feel though we have come to the right decision. Although local authorities are going through a tough time financially, so are many residents, therefore a freeze in Council Tax and the acceptance of the Government grant is the correct course of action.

"It is worth reminding people that Rother will still have the lowest Council Tax rate in the whole of East Sussex and its services are delivered with the fewer staff than any similar authority in the South East."

STATEMENT ENDS

Date 21 February 2012

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