Additional meeting on council tax (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Additional meeting on council tax

SWINDON Council has announced an extra public meeting about council tax. Less than a dozen members of the public attended the first meeting on Tuesday, to the disappointment of council leader Coun Mike Bawden.

But now, in addition to the meeting already scheduled for Monday, an extra meeting will take place on Wednesday.

Residents are invited to join in the debate about what services should be given priority, where efficiency savings should be found and what level of council tax they would like to see.

The two options that will be put to the public at the meetings are:

l A council tax increase of three per cent, based on making £10million of savings. If agreed, a three per cent rise in council tax next year would lead to an average increase of £28 per year for an average band D property.

l A council tax increase of 19.2 per cent, which the council says would be the result if none of the proposed savings were taken.

The final decision on the budget and council tax rise for 2005/6 will by made by the full council on February 10.

The public meetings will take place at the Civic Offices on Euclid Street on Monday from 6pm to 7pm

and on Wednesday from 7.30pm to 8.30pm. A budget and council tax questionnaire will be available at the meetings and also by visiting the council's website at www.swindon.gov.uk

Questionnaires need to be completed by Wednesday January 19.