County council tax to rise by less than two per cent (From The Advertiser Series)

County council tax to rise by less than two per cent

9:50am Friday 5th February 2010

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THOUSANDS of householders could face their lowest council tax rise in ten years.

Labour-run Durham County Council’s cabinet recommended the authority increases its council tax levy by 1.9 per cent.

The final decision will be taken by a full council meeting later this month and levies for the police, fire service and parish or town councils are to be added.

However, council leader Simon Henig said outside Derwentside, which saw a notional reduction following last year’s council reorganisation, the 1.9 per cent council tax increase was his authority’s lowest for more than a decade.

It would see the council’s levy on Band D homes rise from £1,258.92 to £1.282.86: an increase of £23.94, or 46p per week.

For properties in Band A, which includes 61 per cent of County Durham homes, the charge would rise from £839.28 to £855.24: an increase of £15.96, or 31p per week.

The budget also includes plans to save £6.77m as a result of 2009’s council reorganisation and invest £36m – including in Durham’s City of Culture bid.

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