THE ruling Conservative Party at Stratford District Council has approved a council tax rise of 3.6 per cent.
Members also rubber stamped a £40 a year green bin charge and a 20 per cent increase in parking charges in the council’s car parks.
A proposal by the Liberal Democrat opposition to postpone the introduction of the green waste charge for six months was voted down by the Tories.
Coun Susan Juned, Leader of the Lib Dem opposition, said: “A six month delay would have allowed the council time to consider the government’s long term plan for funding councils and the government’s proposals on green waste.
“With council reserves in excess of the whole of next year’s income from the council tax many residents will be puzzled at the party’s enthusiasm for raising council tax and council charges.”
Stratford councillors set the district element of the council tax at a meeting on Monday, February 24.
The amount residents will be asked to pay for a band D property is £144.12.
This means that all services provided by the council including recycling and waste collection, street cleaning, housing, leisure services and children’s play areas will cost £2.77 a week for a Band D household.
The council’s budget includes £60,000 for the Fred Winter Project, £1.6m over the next three years for its core strategy review and £500,000 to tackle climate change.
Leader of the Council, Coun Tony Jefferson, said: “But this budget agreed today protects the council’s capacity and capability to provide the level and quality of services that our residents need.”
