News release

18 February 2008

RUNNYMEDE SETS 2008-09 COUNCIL TAX AT 5% RISE

Leader talks about major programme of future savings in key measures for success Runnymede Borough Councillors have voted for a 5% increase in Council Tax for the next financial year (2008-09). The tax was agreed on Thursday (14 February) at the full Council meeting.

The increase of £126.81 per year for a band D property equates to 2.44 per week for the average tax payer. The new tax will apply from 1 April 2008.

The increase is Runnymede's share of the overall Council Tax bill for borough residents and is 5% of the total bill which includes Surrey County Council's precept (£1,058.04 - up 4.8%) and that of the Surrey Police (£182.92 - up 9.7%).

Leader, Councillor John Furey said: "The proposals produce a total Band D charge of £1,372.77 which is an overall increase of 5.46%. Runnymede residents are paying the lowest Council Tax in Surrey for the third year running and it is the sixth lowest Council Tax level in England. Runnymede's share is only 9.2% of the total bill, equal to an average charge of £2.44 per week."

Cllr Furey introduced the budget debate, saying: "Despite the Government's often repeated claim of 30% growth in financial support for Local Government over the last ten years this, as we know to our cost, has been focused on education and social care authorities. Runnymede has suffered a real terms cut in grant support of 20% over the same period. As a low taxing authority (lowest amongst the eleven Surrey Districts and sixth lowest in England) this has placed us in a particularly challenging position. Capping constraints, real or threatened, add to these difficulties."

"We have set about a major programme of net revenue reductions, which include efficiency savings, remodelling of services, optimising income, asset rationalisation and constant bearing down on costs. This has required substantial financial and managerial discipline, as well as imagination, particularly as our principal policy aim has been to minimise the impact on services valued by residents. My thanks to Officers for all that they have done in this regard."

"In order to bring our spending in line with potential income, three years ago we identified target savings of £2.6m, or a 17% reduction in our net revenue expenditure. You will appreciate that the scale of these reductions, whatever the nature of the organisation, are an enormous challenge, particularly as generally our cost base is modest to begin with. We are, however, on track to deliver £2.3m of savings by the end of March and your Budget Papers this evening identify a further target savings of £600,000 required for 2008/09 and subsequent years. This will place us under pressure to be even clearer as to those things that are and those that are not our priorities - easy to say, but often difficult for us as politicians to deliver."

"Although the last three years have been a time of consolidation and, in some areas, retrenchment, we need to be clear what is still being achieved.

● Very high levels of general satisfaction are amongst residents.

● Similar high levels in the key service areas of housing, benefits and planning that we are also obliged to survey under the Best Value regime.

● Exceptionally high outcomes in national Best Value Performance Indicators are across a broad range of services.

● Recently, Runnymede was judged amongst the top three Councils in England for effective financial management.

● We are one of only a handful of Councils achieving a top "4" score in each of the last three years for Use of Resources/Value for Money Assessments by the Audit Commission.

● Strong Direction of Travel Assessment by the Audit Commission in our Annual Audit and Inspection Letters.

These measures are only part of the story and for many of us the Council's focus on making a difference in Runnymede itself, is the key measure of success:

● The multi-million pound renewal of Wapshott Estate in the Hythe and Roakes Avenue, Addlestone, will provide quality homes to rent and buy, and improve the urban environment of these neighbourhoods.

● The Hythe Park (Pooley Green Town Park) is now underway and due for completion in the 2008-09 Financial Year.

● The programme of upgrading play areas, play equipment, parks and open spaces throughout the Borough will continue, enhancing still further the quality of life for residents.

● We have renewed those technologies that support our Safer Runnymede service and IT systems generally.

● A new Runnymede Civic Centre (financed in the most cost effective way possible) will bring together Police, Library and Council services for the convenience of residents.

● Kitchen/bathroom, heating/insulation and major repair programmes in our 3,000 unit housing stock will continue with £4m being committed in 2008-09

● Exciting food store and hotel have been proposed for Egham Town Centre.
Although this is a snap shot of what we have done this year and plan for next, it is only possible by the most rigorous financial management and making the best use of property assets."