Homeowners in Bromyard pay most council tax (From Ledbury Reporter)

Homeowners in Bromyard pay most council tax

9:28am Thursday 11th March 2010

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HOMEOWNERS in Bromyard are facing the highest council tax bill in Herefordshire.

People in the market town will be paying on average £50 more than someone in Hereford, or £89 more than those living in Allensmore.

Meanwhile the average county resident will pay an extra £29.85 to Herefordshire Council next year.

The 2.54 per cent increase – part of a budget proposing £4.5million in savings – was approved at Shire Hall last Friday.

The decision means the average band D resident will pay £1,205.09 to the council over the next financial year.

Unfortunately, that bill doesn’t include the £252 claimed and shared by the emergency services.

Nor does it include the annual parish precept of £89.93 in Bromyard and Winslow. This - raised by the town council to pay for an office complex – means Bromyard residents are paying the most council tax in the county.

Band D property owners in Bromyard & Winslow will pay a total of 1,547.38 a year, compared to those in Colwal who will fork out 1,534.78, Ledbury - 1,529.01, Mathon - 1,522.63, and Bishop’s Frome - 1,512.23 The approved budget included an extra £1.5m for road repairs and extra funding for social care.

But nearly a third of Herefordshire councillors failed to back the proposals, saying they were full of holes and reliant on borrowing.

But they were given a stinging rebuke by leader, councillor Roger Phillips, who said the budget promised millions in savings.

He added that the interest on most council borrowing was paid by the government, and went towards vital schemes.

“Do you not support the money that went into schools and building? That’s where the borrowing came from,” he said.

“What is your alternative? Slash public services instead? We are preparing for the next three or four years and we believe this budget makes perfect sense.

“It is a budget that can get the extra investment but is prepared for difficult times around the corner.”

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