Council Tax frozen in West Suffolk

Families have welcomed the news that council tax is one bill that will not be going up next year.  In a move to help families through difficult economic times, following the Government’s commitment to support councils that freeze council tax, Suffolk County Council froze council tax in 2011 and in 2012 will freeze it again. St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Forest Heath District Council will also freeze their portion of council tax again, saving families even more money when it is most needed.  

Local MP Matthew Hancock welcomed these decisions:

“It is very welcome that council tax will not rise this year. The councils have taken these decisions to help households, and make sure that money is spent where it is really needed.”  

This is a lifeline to families across West Suffolk. The freeze has saved each household around £100 in council tax.

Going even further to help the people of West Suffolk and save taxpayers’ money, Forest Heath District Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council are also appointing a shared Chief Executive and management team to save money. This builds on a shared services programme, and it will save £2 million initially. These savings help freeze council tax and protect money spent on front line services where it is really needed.

The leaders of the two Councils, John Griffiths and James Waters, said:

“We believe that this is the best possible result for people in West Suffolk and for both councils, enabling us to support our communities by continuing to provide good quality, real value for money services”