Ross mayor John Edwards has pledged to buck the national trend of cost-cutting on public services as far as possible.
There are plans to cut in real terms the tax precept used to finance activities, Councillor John Edwards said in Ross-on-Wye Town Council’s official newsletter.
He said: “There seems little doubt that 2010 will be an interesting year as the country seeks to move out of one of the worst ever economic recession. The backlash of the credit crunch means it will be a year of cost-cutting for local authorities and town councils whoever wins the forthcoming general election.”
He added: “Although council tax and rates look set to rise, this council is going against the trend. It plans to cut in real terms the tax precept used to finance activities.”
A special committee, formed to review the council budget, has decided that the precept would be left unchanged during the next financial year, from April 2010 to April 2011, to avoid putting an extra burden on hard-pressed rate payers.
With a rising number of householders, the average payment per household will in fact decline to around £56 a year or just over £1 a week for a Band D property.
“The decision not to increase the precept involves drawing on reserves to a modest extent but this will enable the town council to continue its programme of measures and events aimed at boosting Ross.”
The council is setting aside a contingency fund to cover any short-term measures that may be recommended in the Ross Town Plan report being put together.
“Hopefully , the town plan report will also initiate discussion of a number of topics affecting the short-term and long-term future of the town and form the basis for a business plan.”
