Zero increase in council tax agreed

Hertsmere’s share of the council tax you pay will stay the same as last year, it was agreed last night.

Councillor John Graham, portfolio holder for finance, explained: "We know that people have had a difficult year and we hope that our decision goes some way to ease the burden. We have seen an increase in demand for our services - such as benefits - and right across the country communities have been suffering. We recognise that it has not been easy for many of our residents and the agreement that there will be no increase on our part of the council tax reflects this.

"We have had to take tough decisions but we have been able to achieve this while protecting essential frontline services and continuing to provide value for money."

A zero increase on Hertsmere’s part of the council tax will mean than an average household (Band D) will pay an average of £160 a year - that's around £3 a week - for the range of services that Hertsmere provides, such as award-winning parks, leisure activities and waste and recycling.

Hertsmere Borough Council collects the council tax every year, but the money residents pay does not all go towards Hertsmere.  Hertsmere gets 11%, or 11 pence in every £1 you pay, Hertfordshire County Council gets 77%, Hertfordshire Police Authority 10% and parish and town councils get 2%.

Hertfordshire County Council has also announced a zero per cent increase on its share this year.

Nationally, householders are set to see an average rise of 1.6% - the lowest increase since council tax began in 1993.

The freeze was agreed at the full council meeting last night, Wednesday 24 February.

For more information on council tax charges, please visit the 'Council tax charges' page on our webiste.