County Hall freezes council tax share (From Braintree and Witham Times)
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County Hall freezes council tax share
9:17am Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News
COUNCIL tax for County Hall will remain frozen after a £2.43billion budget was approved by county councillors .
Cash support for roads and community budgets were approved during a full meeting of Essex County Council yesterday.
Other spending priorities approved were:
• £18million on 1,000 additional school places
• £2million investment in accommodation for vulnerable adults
• A pledge all libraries would remain open.
The county council also hopes to save £200million by 2016-17 on top of £364million already cut.
The Liberal Democrat opposition group put forward an amendment including proposed funding for swimming concessions for under-16s, paying for a Citizens’ Advice Bureau fundraiser and debt advisor training, a travel scheme for young job-seekers and part re-opening of the Martins Farm recycling centre in St Osyth.
Two cabinet posts and advisor roles would have been scrapped to fund the extra spending along with a £750,000 cut to the communications and customer service budget.
But the proposal was described as “paltry and meaningless” by Conservative Rodney Bass and rejected by councillors.
Opposition leader Mike Mackrory said: “We have seen the genuine concerns of Essex residents being turned down. This is a real slap in the face for our residents who deserve better.”
