Council agrees no rise in its share of council tax

As well as freezing its share of Council tax, Harborough District Council has also approved a number of savings and significant growth and investment in a number of key areas as part of its budget for 2020/21.

This investment includes leisure, climate change, rural and environmental crime investigation, heritage and conservation, economic development, homelessness prevention, focus on young people, providing affordable homes and support for the armed services.

The Council continues to respond successfully to the challenge of reduced government funding and increased cost pressures through maximising the use of its assets, exploring commercial opportunities and generating income from a variety of sources.

Prudent saving over the years means the Council is able to use reserves to support frontline services to help keep taxes low.

The Council has also benefited from growth across the district, such as new housing and businesses, through the New Homes Bonus and a 50 per cent share of new business rates respectively, which it is able to re-invest into vital public services.

Councillor James Hallam (pictured), Harborough District Council’s deputy leader and Cabinet member for finance, said: “We have agreed significant extra investment in areas which people have said are important to them and which fit our priorities as a Council. We have also been able to freeze our share of Council tax thanks, in part, to our focus on income generation, as well as long-term saving.”

The overall Council tax bill is made up of a number of separate charges made by separate authorities – Leicestershire County Council, the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, Harborough District Council, and Parish Councils / Parish Meetings.