SANDWELL BOASTS BLACK COUNTRY’S LOWEST COUNCIL TAX RISE

22-02-2008

Bosses at Sandwell Council are celebrating the lowest council tax increase in the Black Country – an increase of just 2.9%, adding between 46p and 62p to resident's monthly bills.

Deputy leader Steve Eling explained: "Throughout our budget planning we have been looking for an inflation-matching rise of around 3% at the most.

"We have now gone through the books in detail and are able to recommend an increase in Sandwell's council tax of 2.85%.

"The total extra that residents will pay - adding the levies for police and fire services that we have to pass on - comes to exactly 2.9%."

He added, "We believe this rise will be the lowest in the Black Country this year.

"It is part of a budget that concentrates extra money on the services that the people of Sandwell tell us in surveys and other feedback are important to them.

"At the same time it is affordable.”

Sandwell’s cabinet will be asked to approve the plan before it’s endorsed by full council on March 4.

Wolverhampton’s Council tax increase for the forthcoming year is set at 4.75% (not 4.9% as incorrectly reported on The Stirrer earlier this week) while Dudley has announced an extra 5% charge.