Warning over cuts in bills
John Dickens • Published 13 Feb 2012 07:00
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A SLOUGH council chief has questioned the decision by the Royal Borough to slash council tax for a third year running - claiming future generations will pay for the lack of investment.
Strategic director Julie Evans labelled reducing council tax as a 'buy now, pay later' scheme that only acts as a short-term holiday for tax payers.
Speaking at the unveiling of Slough Borough Council's five-year budget plans she said: "We have a town that wants reinvestment and needs community investment and we have been able to provide that and not increase council tax.
"Reducing council tax is 'buy now, pay later' and future generations will pay the cost for a lack of investment in the short term. Yes, council tax payers will enjoy a holiday but time-wise future council tax payers will pay a bigger bill."
The Royal Borough announced its proposals to bring council tax down by 6% since 2010. However this could be at a cost of losing up to 60 jobs.
Royal Borough council leader David Burbidge said: "We make our decisions on what the public ask us to do and we have been given a clear message they don't want the council tax to go up."
Ruth Bagley, Slough Borough Council chief executive, added: "We've reduced the staffing of the council but have largely done it in a way that has worked with our staff and had some positive feedback how we have changed the shape of the council. We have done this largely by voluntary approaches."
This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 10 Feb 12
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