Hart Council sets 2008-09 Budget and Council Tax

Hart District Council has set its budget and council tax for 2008-09. At the meeting of full Council on 28^th February the average Band D Council Tax for 2008-09 was set at just £141.39, an increase of £6.45 or 4.8% over the 2007-08 level.

Cabinet member for Finance, Councillor Stuart Bailey said:

"The level of government grant that Hart receives only increased by 1% this year which made pulling together a balanced budget particularly challenging. Whilst we are raising the council tax by £6.45 a year – which is higher than we would prefer, we have been able to protect front-line priority services.

Street cleaning, litter picking and community wardens all receive a cash boost and the Council has been able to honour its agreements with local partners, for instance by significantly increasing funding for the Basingstoke Canal.

Every year the Council is tasked with achieving a balance between affordability for residents and maintaining quality services. This budget achieves that balance by investing in the services that residents need and has been paid for by making significant efficiencies in back-office support services".