Council tax bills up by nearly £90 a year (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Council tax bills up by nearly £90 a year

TAXPAYERS in Wiltshire are to be faced with another increase in their bills from April, with rises of nearly £90 a year in some areas.

The county and district councils, the fire and police service and each town council have all increased their part of the tax.

Wiltshire Fire Authority is leading the way, authorising a rise of 15.94 per cent, with the police agreeing a 9.98 per cent increase.

The Chairman of Wiltshire Police Authority, Bertie Woolnough, said: "Our recent widespread consultation has told us that the public want us to further improve our performance, especially visibility and improved call handling.

"We approved a budget that invests in these areas, but have balanced this with the need to set a moderate precept. Over the last three years, only three (out of 43) police authorities have set a lower cumulative precept."

West Wiltshire District Council's cabinet has recommended a rise of 4.5 per cent for the coming tax year, at a cost of about £5.27 per year to the average band D household.

District councillors have blamed central government cutbacks for the rise, as newly introduced funding 'ceilings' mean money has been kept back from many local councils.

District council leader Tony Phillips said: "We have achieved a balanced budget and maintained the same rise in council tax as last year, despite having our grant from the Government pegged back for the second year running.

"Had we received the increase that we qualify for, we would have been given an additional £753,000 for 2004/05."

A new system introduced last year to distribute central government grants to local councils should have benefited west Wiltshire but, in order to ensure that all authorities receive a minimum rise of at least three per cent, the Government 'pegged back' those councils receiving the greatest increases. Wiltshire has suffered the

seventh greatest cutback in the country under this new system.

Wiltshire County Council approved a rise of 5.98 per cent last week, adding just under £47 per year to the average council tax bill.

The county council has also suffered under the 'ceilings' system, receiving £5.5 million less than the Government's own funding formula suggests it should.

Council leader Jane Scott said: "I am well aware of the hardship these increases bring to our residents on low or fixed incomes.

"Conscious of this, I have been determined to keep next year's council tax increase to an absolute minimum, consistent with meeting the statutory requirements placed on us by central government and ensuring that our residents receive the services they need and deserve.

"It is indeed frustrating to be aware that we would have kept the increase next year very close to the rate of inflation if we had received from the Government the full grant for which we qualify."

NEW CHARGES

Council tax bills per annum for the average band D property 2004/5:

Bradford on Avon

£1,130.41 (2003/4)

£1,203.67 (2004/5)

RISE = £73.26

Melksham

£1,137.25 (2003/4)

£1,208.28 (2004/5)

RISE = £76.75

Trowbridge

£1,147.80 (2003/4)

£1,224.55

RISE = £76.75

Warminster

£1,122.88 (2003/4)

£1,196.78 (2004/5)

RISE = £73.90

Westbury

£1,120.62 (2003/4)

£1,210.58 (2004/5)

RISE = £89.96