From our Local County Councillor
I make no apologies to you for reverting to a topic I introduced in my last
article, namely Council Tax (CT). I warned then that the County Council Leader
was standing by his six percent increase forecast but was likely to have to
rethink when the level of central grant was revealed.
I now have to tell you that, as I feared, the level of Government assistance is likely to be low, indeed, much worse than expected. Although Cambridgeshire will get some more grant, we are caught again by the artificial Government imposed "ceiling" (set at 6.2% for Cambs), which means we lose £12.5 M cash grant 2004 /5. This is the second year in succession that we have suffered a cut to what we should have had. Inevitably, this will have an impact on the level of CT and the County Council's ability to meet the cost of providing services - primarily Education, Social Services and Transport / Roads. £12.5 M in itself would add an 8% rise in CT which ought to be added to the 6% increase already forecast earlier this year. That said, the Cabinet is reviewing its proposed spending plans to see what economies can be made...
You should note that Cambridgeshire's CT was the third lowest of all County Councils in 2003/4. However it has increased around 9% per year over the last five years. The CT Band D for 2003/4 would go up £7.60 per one percent of increase. The other bands would move in line with this as appropriate.
An unusual change this coming year is that the Cambs. Fire & Rescue Service (CF&RS) will become its own precepting body (similar to Police) from next April. This will mean that the County part of CT will reduce and the Fire & Rescue Service will start with the same sum but adjusted for any inflationary or other increase needed to keep it up to standard in the coming year. Next year the CF&RS will come directly to you to ask for a similar sum (plus any inflation / cost increases). I will come back to this later after the next meeting of the CF&RS to give you the proposals. As a generalisation I believe we receive a wonderfully economic return for the modest sums needed to cope with fires and to rescue anyone in need, particularly after road accidents.
Harriet and I send our best wishes to you for a good and happy New Year, in spite of the gloomy tone of this newsletter.