Scottish Borders Council Administration announces Council Tax freeze
Tuesday, November 20 2007
Scottish Borders Council’s Administration has announced today its intention to freeze Council Tax levels during 2008/9 – meaning a zero per cent increase across the board.
Council Leader David Parker said: “One of the main commitments announced by this new Administration in May was our aim to keep Council Tax levels as low as possible. And there is no better way to minimise levels than by having no increase at all. I am delighted that we have been able to deliver on this promise.”
Councillor Neil Calvert, Depute Leader and Executive Member for Finance, said: “The Council will be announcing its full budget in February, with updates issued periodically as we approach that time. The Council Tax freeze will mean a difficult year in terms of managing the Council’s finances but we will continue to chart a prudent course.”
Councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carre welcomed the freeze: “I am delighted that the Council’s Administration will be able to deliver a Council Tax freeze. Our number one priority was to minimise the Council Tax rise in the Scottish Borders. Nevertheless it is extremely important that we can still make local decisions in the best interests of local people. We must not have all the powers of local government drained away to Holyrood. ”
Councillor Alex Nicol said: “The Council tax freeze will certainly mean that we have some very difficult decisions to make in managing the Council’s budget.”
Editors’ Note:
Councillor Carolyn Riddell-Carre is Leader of the Council’s Conservative councillors
Councillor Alex Nicol is Leader of the Council’s Scottish Liberal Democrat councillors
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