Council tax is frozen for yet another year

The authority confirmed last Friday, at its full council meeting, that there would be no increase in its share of the council tax when bills are sent out in March.

Lincolnshire County Council has set one of the lowest council tax rates in the country. And despite the stretch on the public purse, it has vowed still to protect frontline services.

Councillor Kelly Smith, with responsibility for finance and HR, said: “This is a difficult time for everyone financially, and we feel it’s important to do all we can to make life easier for our residents. That’s why we’re freezing council tax for the second year running.”

Councillor Smith said: “In the last year, the council has made savings of over £50 million. And we’ve achieved this without severe cuts to frontline services or large-scale compulsory redundancies, instead making the council ever more efficient.”

“Despite our tough financial position, we have again protected services that have an impact on public safety, things like child protection, the fire service, and road maintenance.”

“And we also continue to invest in major infrastructure projects, such as the Lincoln Eastern Bypass and next-generation broadband, which will pave the way for renewed prosperity in Lincolnshire.”

One of the council’s main sources of income, the formula grant from the Government, will be reduced by £16 million in the next financial year.

The freeze on council tax has been made possible by a special one-off Government grant for authorities that keep rises below 2.5 per cent.