Eaton Bray Council Tax Bill for 2008-09

Posted on March 7, 2008

Households around South Bedfordshire face average £1,623 bills.

The number-crunching on council tax is finally over, so South Beds householders can now check out the size of their bill for 2008/09.

Dunstable households in average band D properties will pay 1,623.09 in council tax in the next financial year.

That's a rise ofabout £66.75 compared to the bill for 2007/08.

In Houghton Regis, the council tax bill for average band D homes will be £1,618.89, an increase of about £72.

Council tax bills include share-outs of different sizes for various authorities, providing all sorts of services for people living in South Beds.

The last piece of the jigsaw was put into place at the budget-setting meeting of South Beds District Council.

Councillors voted through the Conservative budget, which means there will be a rise of 2.99 per cent for the district council's slice of the council tax bill.

That's the lowest council tax percentage increase of all of the county's major authorities.

The district council's budget requirement for 2008/09 was set at £15.6 million.

Average band D householders in South Beds will pay £158.59 for district council services in the coming year.

That works out at a £4.60 rise, 9p per week, compared to the current year, for those services.

Executive councillor Philip Penman, who has special responsibility for resource management, talked of the uncertainty over the future structure of local government in the county

However, the financial strategy for the district council had been prepared on a "business as usual" basis, projected over a five-year period.

He said that further improvements to the council's performance management systems were working well.

And he went on: "We strive to put the customer at the heart of everything we do."

Mr Penman highlighted the All-Pay system which had been brought in for payments. .

He said that this was popular with most residents, with about £1 million being collected every month through the system, from 15,000 transactions.

"We are providing a better and more convenient service to our customers, and saving £100,000 a year," he said.

The Grove Theatre had been completed at the end of the previous financial year and had been showing an exciting programme of events.

Mr Penman said: "This was a magnificent venture, which is a credit to joint working and those members and officers that were involved."

He talked of a new contract for refuse collection and street cleansing, helping the council to meet recycling targets and maintain the high standard of cleanliness in South Beds.

The executive councillor also spoke of the makeover project for Bedford Square, in Houghton Regis, and the scheme to demolish and replace flats in London Road, Dunstable.

Car parking charges and local land charges would not be going up in the next financial year.

More capital resources would be spent on empty properties, to ensure that homes and gardens were in good condition when new tenants moved in.

Work on revitalising town centres was continuing.

Mr Penman said that £700,000 had been earmarked to improve the area around West Street and Ashton Square, in Dunstable. That would be paid for by a government grant.

He also spoke of the proposals to create a community football development centre in north Dunstable.

The councillor pointed out that a three-year government grant settlement had been lower than expected.

He concluded: "This is a prudent budget, which continues to improve services while keeping council tax as low as possible."

Who gets what?

The biggest chunk of the council tax bill goes on Beds County Council services.

Average band D households in South Beds will pay £1,123.47 for that part of the bill.

Another slice, £135.28, is earmarked for the Bedfordshire Police Authority, and £78.84 will go to Bedfordshire and Luton Combined Fire Authority.

South Beds District Council will take £158.59 of the bill.

On top of all that, average band D householders living in Dunstable will pay £126.91 for services provided by Dunstable Town Council.

Those living in Houghton Regis will fork out £122.71 for services from Houghton Regis Town Council.

For the latest news from Eaton Bray and beyond, get the Dunstable Gazette every Wednesday and make a daily date with Dunstable Today.

Source: Anne O'Donoghue, Dunstable Gazette, 5 March 2008