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A new look council tax leaflet is being sent to all Spelthorne households with the council tax claim forms for 2004/05.
The leaflet explains how much Spelthorne charges for its services – just £2.58 a week or £134.21 a year for an average (Band D) property – an average 30p increase (again based on Band D) on this current year.
Introduced by the Council leader Frank Davies, the leaflet draws attention to the key priorities paid for by the council tax – priorities that residents have said they think are most important. These are: engaging with younger people, making Spelthorne a better place, making Spelthorne safer and improving customer satisfaction.
There are a number of reasons why the council tax has had to go up including:
·The Government requires Spelthorne to provide additional services but does not give sufficient funds to cover the extra costs – these then have to fall on local people
Although money is taken from reserves (effectively the Council’s ‘savings’) to support council tax, this cannot go on indefinitely without eventually having to raise council tax by a significant amount. The Council is trying to run down, gradually, the amount of reserves used in this way.
The leaflet also explains that the council tax raised by Spelthorne goes towards funding not only this Council’s service but also pays for services provided by Surrey County Council and Surrey Police. For every 100% collected, 76% goes to the county, 13% to Surrey Police and 11% to Spelthorne Borough Council.
Cllr Davies says’ “Our ongoing commitment is to the residents of Spelthorne and the quality services they want and deserve. We will continue to work for and with you”.
For council tax general enquiries phone 01784 446490, for benefit enquiries (including housing and council tax) ring 01784 446457.
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