Thomas Bridge 05 February 2014

Surrey avoids ‘unnecessary’ £2m council tax referendum

Surrey CC’s cabinet has approved a 1.99% council tax rise to avoid the ‘unnecessary’ £2m cost of a referendum.

Council leader, David Hodge, said while the town hall needed the funding raised from a 2.5% increase to local levies, spending on the resultant local vote would have been a ‘waste of public money’.

A council tax hike over 2% currently requires local authorities to launch a local vote on their plans.

Speaking at a meeting yesterday, Hodge – who is also chairman of the County Councils Network - urged central government to devolve further budgetary powers to local authorities, arguing town halls ‘were best placed’ to manage their own affairs.

Hodge, said: ‘We had planned to go for 2.5% because we could have used that money on highways and other things.

‘But the truth of the matter is that if we want to go for 2.5% it will cost us a minimum £2m to find that answer for the sake of £3m. That is just unnecessary; it’s a waste of public money in my opinion.

‘What I would like to see is government letting local government and councils manage their own budgets and manage their affairs as I believe we are best placed to manage those affairs.’

The recommendation by Surrey’s cabinet will now go to a meeting of the full council on 11 February, where a final decision on the council tax rise will be taken.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Head of Democratic Services, Elections & Monitoring Officer

Harborough District Council
Grade 12 £67,236 – £71,223 plus £3000pa Statutory Officer Allowance
We are looking for an accomplished and proactive leader for our vacant post of Head of Democratic Services & Elections Market Harborough, Leicestershire
Recuriter: Harborough District Council

Residential Youth Practitioner

Oxfordshire County Council
£37035 - £39513
The Move On Service provides intensive supported housing accommodation for young people aged 16 to 18 years who are in the care of the local authority, working to create individual plans for those requiring additional support for their transition towards Witney
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Locality and Community Support Worker - North

Oxfordshire County Council
£37035 - £39513
The Locality & Community Support Service in North Oxfordshire are seeking to recruit a Locality Support Worker to join their Locality & Community Support Team. The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic worker who is passionate about improving outc Banbury
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
£35,412 - £39,152 (pre-progression) / £40,777 - £45,091 (post-progression)
We are looking for social workers who have completed the assessed and supported year in employment to join our Families First teams, working with our Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Social Worker

Durham County Council
Grade 9 £35,412 - £39,152 (Pre-Progression) / Grade 11 £40,777 - £45,091 (Post-Progression)
Are you a nurturing social worker passionate about supporting parents so that children can remain with their birth family?     This could be the right Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner