Harborough District Council prepares to freeze its share of council tax - and now you can have your say on the budget

Residents are being urged to have their say as Harborough District Council prepares to freeze the Council Tax for almost 40,000 households.
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The council’s Cabinet unanimously backed proposals to nail its share of the annual charge on Monday night (Jan 13).

The band D property council tax is set to stay at £167.97 as a result.

Councillors are now calling on local people and businesses to tell them what they think about the proposed budget for 2020-2021.

Harborough District Council's offices.Harborough District Council's offices.
Harborough District Council's offices.

The final blueprint will then be put before a full council meeting on February 24.

Cllr James Hallam, the council’s deputy leader and finance lead, told the Cabinet: “We should be extremely proud of this as we go forward.”

Cllr Phil King, the council’s leader, said: “This is a very commendable budget.

“We are proposing not to increase the Council Tax while spending more money.”

The council is poised to fork out almost £13.5 million across the board in 2020-2021 – up by nearly £900,000 on this year.

The authority aims to hire a new service manager to promote Market Harborough and Lutterworth as “vibrant market towns and to attract inward investment”.

“That’s absolutely critical,” insisted Cllr King.

The council also wants to “drive forward key council capital projects and capital investment” as well as develop a bold young people’s strategy.

You can find out more about the proposed budget and have your say on the council’s website at https://www.harborough.gov.uk/news/article/1259/have_your_say_on_council_budget_proposals until Tuesday February 4.

Cllr Hallam said: “All comments received as part of the consultation will help inform decisions around our spending and saving for the year ahead.

“We have set out an ambitious programme of growth to benefit residents across the district, as well as no rise to our share of council tax this year and we want to hear people’s views on that.”