Bedford Borough Conservative Councillor John Mingay has written to the Times & Citizen and the Bedfordshire on Sunday to argue that the Council should accept the Government’s Council Tax freeze grant for 2014/15. His letter is reproduced here:
Council Tax Freeze Can Ease Burden on Residents
When councillors vote on Bedford Borough Council’s budget for 2014/15 next month we will have the opportunity to approve the receipt of a government grant to freeze Council Tax for a 4th consecutive year. This grant will also be available for the 2015/16 budget.
The Mayor has always been keen to claim personal credit for freezing Council Tax after accepting these significant payments in the last 3 years. Conversely, I think it is only fair to note the contribution of the Government in previous years and for offering the freeze grant to councils again for the next 2 years.
Should both grants be accepted the Government estimates that over 5 years taxpayers in an average Band D home could save up to £1,100. For the years 2011/12 – 2013/14 the Government has already provided the Council with freeze grants totalling £4.4m, and this will rise to around £6m if the grants are accepted in the next 2 years.
The Council had envisaged a 1.5% Council Tax increase in each of the next 2 financial years but these plans have been shelved following the extension of the freeze grant. Accepting this assistance for a 4th year in a row would provide timely support to hard pressed residents.
Cllr John Mingay (Con)
Newnham Ward