Council Tax
The Council has fulfilled its pledge to freeze its slice of council tax for the second year running. This means that council tax levied by the Council will be exactly the same amount of money this year as it was in 2005. A Band D property will pay £727.27 for 2007 to 2008, which is one of the lowest rates in the country. The only increase will come from the Mayor of London for services provided by the Greater London Authority.
How council tax is set?
Council tax charged to residents in Kensington and Chelsea is a combination of the figure set by the Council to pay for its local services and the figure charged by the Mayor of London to pay for London-wide services including the Metropolitan Police Authority and London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.
The Council's annual budget is drawn up by the Cabinet and presented before full Council every March. In addition to the revenue generated by council tax, income is also provided by charges and fees from services like parking, specific grants for services such as schools and the Formula Grant, a government grant to help pay for Council services.
Setting the budget
The Council has set this year's budget by planning for £3.5 million of savings – a combination of efficiencies and generating additional income with £3.5 million of growth and investment in services. Key items of growth include £319,000 for transporting pupils with special educational needs, £240,000 to improve services for children with a disability, £105,000 extra for maintaining museums and the arts and £430,000 to protect services for older people. There is also £180,000 to pay for area-based initiatives, responding to local issues in six wards. The Council also has a £215 million capital investment programme over the next three years including major schools projects.
For more information on the Council's budget and council tax charges visit www.rbkc.gov.uk.
Email your comments on this story to rbkcdirect@rbkc.gov.uk.
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